Aussies look to sweep polo series

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Having won their first two matches, the visiting Australians will be gunning to complete a sweep of local teams when they oppose a strong Kingston Polo Club team in the Virgin Atlantic 25th anniversary series, which ends today at the Kingston Polo Club, Caymanas Estates, starting at noon.

The Kingston Polo Club team will comprise Mark Wates, his brother Ricky Wates, Paul Lalor and Member of Parliament James Robertson.

Exciting match

In an exciting opening match last Sunday, the Australian team of Richard Rawlings (captain), Matthew Oleiry, Dick Doolin and Ric McCarthy clipped the Chukka Blue team 7-6 at Sandy Bay in Hanover.

After racing into a 4-0 lead in the first Chukka, Australia held on grimly in the closing stages to withstand a late rally from the Jamaicans.

Representing the Chukka Blue team were John G. Byles, Andy Vernon, Kurt Chin and his brother, Shane Chin.

Neck and neck

The Australians also nosed out a St Ann Polo team comprising the Chin brothers, Craig Russell and Lesley Fong-Yee 7-6 at Drax Hall on Thursday afternoon.

In this match, the Australians brought in rookie player Hugh Evans as a replacement for McCarthy.

This proved an even more exciting match than the first, as both teams raced neck and neck after finishing the first quarter locked at 2-2 and the third at 4-4. In the fourth and final chukka, Australia just managed to squeeze home, thanks to five goals from Rawlings and two from Doolin.

Shane Chin and Fong-Yee scored two goals each for the losers, while Russell and Kurt Chin got a goal apiece.