Show FIRST POLO MATCHES PLAYED IN LONG AGO english team brought to united states in 1886 1686 menier Meni lr of hurling ham club writes interesting letter Cie describing scribing initial contests for international title in 1888 1886 john watson brought an E 1191 ish team to the united states slates to piny the hist first matches for the international polo cup what comment that visit 11 used 1 americans amei leans were eager to 8 seo eo if the 1 e game and ever everyone yode knows wath with what avidity it was aa taken up nhep ijo clety said it was good to look upon pot alo following letter written by it xi odthe team pineil pl neil in those games will be read IkA interest terest even though the writer has begged not to have ills his name made public the letter follows american polain pola polo in 1880 was not ns far car all a 11 team play anve went t up to the of first class clas english 1311 glish polo rhe american rode very handy ponies 1 I believe mostly Ar gentines they were nere not so well bred or as fast ponies its as ours the american team did not play well together and thought too much of their individual play they had not then mastered the backhander and alid did not try to keep the hall ball up and down the middle of the ground the english teams had bad learned their polo to start with mostly in inilla india where there were full sized grounds and yards lards and no boards boaras it wai was therefore necessary to keep the lie ball in play by playing up and down the ground tile the team was captained by mr watson one of the best players placers of his day when playing a practice game before the matches lie he oyei over balanced himself and tell fell on off his pony ills horsemanship on tills this account colla t was much criticized criticised by the american Ameil can press lie he was however a viry deiy strong and good horseman which I 1 think the americans realized in the watches matches we iere bere t to have played several matches in the united states but as the team beat the best team the united states could then produce lit III two consecutive watches the other matches fell through throng the ground nt at newport was very good and well kept but much too small even for ponies of the height then played the game in the united states was commenced by placing the ball in the middle of the ground the no as started from behind the line an and galloped for the ball this rule was decidedly to our advantage |