Park Place 9 – 8 Bardon
Andrey Borodin’s Park Place had a winning debut in the Talacrest Prince of Wales’s Championship Cup tournament this afternoon but Bardon made them work hard for this victory. Like yesterday’s opening game, there was little air between these two teams in all six chukkas. Park Place, featuring Borodin, Will Harper, Juan Britos and Facundo Pieres, had a narrow 1-goal advantage (4-3) at the half-time break but Andras Tombor’s Bardon were very much still in the mix.
Bardon, who won the 18-goal Indian Empire Shield just last month, may be playing in the 22-goal for the first time but showed today that they mean business. Fran Elizalde, Alfredo Bigatti and Matias Machado made a formidable opposition and those watching live on The Queen’s Ground at Guards Polo Club or catching it live on Guards TV were treated to some fast-paced polo, particularly in the second half. There were some great horse races between Elizalde and Pieres and Machado and Britos, despite the unseasonal August rain.
With the scores reading 7-7 as the teams headed into the sixth chukka there was still all to play for. Elizalde put Bardon in front only for Park Place to convert a penalty. Then with two minutes left on the clock Park Place took the ball to goal, with Britos in determined fashion firing through the winner. Bardon kept on battling but could not find another to push this game into extra time.
With such close games we are clearly going to be treated to some amazing late summer polo at Guards Polo Club.
Next games: Sunday 8 August
12noon: Park Place v UAE Polo Team
3pm: Bardon Polo Team v Monterosso
