Dubai Polo Team 15 – 13 Park Place Vaara The Castle Ground – Flemish Farm
Thai Polo NP 10 – 9 Clinova The Queen’s Ground
The much-anticipated match between undefeated Dubai Polo Team and Park Place Vaara initiated play on the 10th day of this year’s Cartier Queen’s Cup tournament. It was evident from the first throw-in that this would be an attacking game. Park Place Vaara’s Santos Merlos struck first but was quickly met with a response from Matt Perry. Stepping into the spotlight, two goals rom Juan Britos contributed to an impressive four-goal opening chukka, leaving Park Place Vaara ahead 4-2. Effectively using Joshua Hyde in the number 1 position, Park Place Vaara accelerated forward and Hyde collected two assists, while his team remained a perfect 6 for 6 from the field through two chukkas. Trailing by four, Dubai Polo Team turned to tournament-scoring leader Camilo Castagnola, as a field goal and penalty goal helped Dubai Polo Team inch closer. However they remained down by three at half-time (8-5). The first team to complete all four league games in this competition, Dubai Polo Team faced a tough task in the second half in slowing Park Place Vaara’s high-powered attack. Foul trouble for Park Place Vaara provided an opening for Dubai Polo Team that resulted in three penalty conversions for Castagnola. Dubai suddenly found themselves trailing by just one. Trying to hold on to their shrinking lead, Park Place Vaara relied on the play of 10-goaler Hilario Ulloa, who produced three consecutive goals for his team to maintain a slim lead. Then, after Albwardy had jumped on the loose ball to tie the score at 13-all, Castagnola fought through traffic and scored from distance to give Dubai Polo Team their first lead of the game, 14-13. Inside the final two minutes, Castagnola teed up a safety and sent the ball through the posts to secure a 15-13 win and head to the quarter-finals (4-5 June) with a perfect 4-0 record.
A must-win game for both teams to have any chance at securing a place in the quarter-finals, Clinova and Thai Polo NP met on the famed Queen’s Ground in a late afternoon match. Holding a one-goal advantage on handicap, Thai Polo NP produced one of the best chukkas of the tournament thus far, scoring five goals with perfect shooting from both the field and the penalty line. Ignacio Negri led the way with two goals, while all four Thai Polo NP players added their names to the scoresheet just minutes into the match. Stunned by the opening seven minutes, Clinova turned their focus to the defensive end, holding Thai Polo NP scoreless in the second chukka and allowing them to slowly fight their way back into the game. A lone goal from Alejandro Muzzio provided the only attack of the chukka as two missed Penalty 4 attempts prevented Clinova from pulling any closer. Exchanging goals at the end of the half, Thai Polo NP rode their early success to remain ahead by three (7-4). Clinova overcame a stagnant attack in a crucial fifth chukka thanks to the play of the American Jared Zenni, who accounted for both Clinova goals. Still hanging on to their three-goal lead despite scoring more goals in the first chukka than the rest of the game put together, Thai Polo NP entered the sixth chukka with Clinova piling on the pressure to tie the game. Back-to-back Penalty 3 conversions for Malcolm Borwick brought Clinova to within one. However Cesar Crespo’s second goal of the game held off Clinova’s comeback attempt and secured Thai Polo NP their first win of the tournament, a 10-9 victory.
Saturday’s Fixtures
11:30 am – King Power v UAE Polo Team at Noel Farm
3:00 pm – Twelve Oaks vs Marques de Riscal on The Duke’s Ground
All games are being livestreamed by Guards TV in association with Polocam TV. Go to https://guards.polocam.tv/package
