Polo: Oh the pain as those same foes do it again

Johnny Coddington sparks a Hawke's Bay A counter attack during yesterday's loss to Rangitikei A. Photo / Paul Taylor

Agony was written all over the face of Hawke's Bay A polo team captain Jared Thompson last night.

"Two consecutive finals and two losses. Both to Rangitikei A too," Thompson lamented after his team's 8-7 loss to Rangitikei A in the Dewar Cup final which required an extra chukka after the score was 7-all at the end of regulation time in the feature match of the four-day Bayleys Hawke's Bay Open.

The fact Hawke's Bay A were 6-4 up early in the fourth and penultimate chukka in their quest to taste Dewar Cup glory for the first time since 1994 added to the agony.

"Yes we were up by two and looking good. You've got to hand it to Angus ... he did it well," Thompson said referring to Rangitikei A kingpin Angus McKelvie, a five handicapper and the highest ranked player at the tournament.

McKelvie, a fourth generation player from a well-known Tangimoana-based polo family who have hosted numerous Savile Cup tournaments on their property, made one change to last year's winning team with Harry Duncan replacing David Bird at No1. Duncan, who is also a member of a prominent polo family, became a first time Dewar Cup winner.

There were times when that familiarity showed. There were also occasions when No 4 McKelvie made uncharacteristic misses, both of penalties and also field goals when there was little defensive pressure.

"It was pretty good to come back with three of last year's team and go back-to-back. I wasn't worried when we were down by two ... we've got pretty big hearts where we come from," McKelvie explained.

McKelvie's wife Harriet at No2 and No3 Campbell Davis completed the winning team's lineup.

"We'll be back next year to attempt a three-peat and next week we will take the same team to the Poverty Bay tournament. We didn't play in that one last year so it would be good to get a win up there," McKelvie added.

His team led 2-1 after the first chukka. Davis scored an early field goal before outstanding Hawke's Bay A professional and No 3 Johnny Coddington, who is a four handicapper, scored from a penalty. McKelvie converted a penalty to put his team ahead.

Coddington had the first say in the second chukka with a successful penalty attempt. McKelvie was on target with another penalty before a Thompson field goal had the score tied at 3-all going into the third chukka.

A McKelvie field goal put the visitors ahead again before Hawke's Bay A's No 2 and former New Zealand rep Aaron Vowles finished off a clever set move to tie the score again. A Vowles field goal put the hosts ahead 5-4 just before the siren.

Vowles, who produced his best performance of the tournament, scored another field goal at the start of the chukka. As the Hawke's Bay heat disappeared Rangitikei A's play seemed to improve and a Davis field goal along with a McKelvie penalty had the score tied at 6-all going into the fifth chukka.

Coddington was again on target with a penalty before McKelvie replied with one of his own. McKelvie scored the winning field goal in the extra chukka. McKelvie played with several stitches on his forehead after he was hit with a mallet in the previous day's semifinals.

Thompson said he hoped all of his team, which also included No 1 Richard Dee, would be available again next year.