Saturday, finals day, was upon us and the day was absolutely gorgeous. After a day of relaxing, sipping mate at the barn with the grooms and a fantastic lunch with good friends I made my way into Buenos Aires to the polo fields of Palermo. As I entered the grounds I could hear the beat of the music, as I rounded field 2 the scene underneath the grandstands of field 1 unfolded before me. Through the smoke of the asado I could see crowds of people milling around the too numerous to mention sponsors’ booths (ok, I’ll give it a shot…Chandon, Branco Unico, Nespresso, Borghetti, JVC, Celicias, Freddo, Stella…nah, I think there were more). I wandered through the crowd of polo fans, photographers, tv crews and beautiful women handing out pamphlets to look at the art, watch some of the videos, check out the sponsors’ booths and grab a Stella on my way to find a seat in the grandstands. I settled into a great seat, slightly raised and front row, centre-field…oh, by the way…entry and all seating is free for these tournaments! Once seated I took a moment to look around, just behind me I see an announcer preparing for the game, excellent.
The teams, Amadeus and Ferne Park, align themselves at mid-field and the announcer introduces them to the crowd one by one as they ride by and return to centre to await the first throw-in…game time! These teams, from the beginning displayed the type of play that brought them to this point. 7 goaler Guillermo Terrera immediately gained control of the ball and displayed his fine stick-work and horsemanship skills but Ferne Park countered with their trademark solid defence and strong running. Miguel del Carril, Ferne Park’s 6 goaler in the #2 position, was the first to put one on the board both from the field and from the penalty line and quickly it was 2-0 in Ferne Park’s favour. Amadeus, playing well, was unable to overcome Ferne Park’s defence and convert their attempts at goal and then, a mistake. Knocking the ball in from their end-line, they dropped it on their passing attempt, leaving it behind for Eden Omerod to pounce on and put through the uprights. They had to be feeling frustrated as the chukka ended with them sailing another shot at goal wide and trailing Fern Park by a score of 3-0. As music came on between chukkas I took the opportunity to glance around again, this really was quite the event, quite a number of people here, and I noticed mates and La Merced (another sponsor) yerba were being handed out for the spectators to enjoy…even the umpire was enjoying some. The 2nd began with strong defense by Amadeus and a well placed pass from Terrera to Robert Kofler who with 2 solid strikes of the ball was putting his team on the board. Santiago Marambio, Amadeus’ solid #4, was to get the next 2 goals of the game, first from the field and then from the penalty line to tie the match at 3. Joaquin Pitaluga, playing in the #3 position for Ferne Park on a 7 goal handicap, surely didn’t approve of this turn of events and answered with a goal of his own to end the chukka 4-3 for Ferne Park. This game, good from the outset, was now also close on the scoreboard, excellent, this was shaping up to be a fantastic match. Ferne Park took the field for the 3rd determined to retake control of this match and immediately Pitaluga does just that, taking control of the throw-in at the boards and breaking to goal to score his 2nd and Ferne Park’s 5th. Then Pitaluga, receiving a pass from Del Carril, pots another, 6-3. Amadeus attacks again and again but Ferne Park holds them off, Del Carril gets out front, cuts a shot on the run and banks it off the post and in, 7-3. The action so fast, as I type I hear a crash, I look up and it’s Pablito Llorente managing to stay on his horse after taking out the goal post in attempting to defend Amadeus’ goal from Del Carril…to no avail, 8-3 Ferne Park. Wow, what a flurry of goals from Ferne Park! 
Feeling no after-effects from his collision and near fall, Pablito Llorente, the young 4 goaler in the #2 position for Amadeus, jumps a ball, turns it at the run and finishes with the goal to bring Amadeus a little closer at 8-4. Just when it looked as though halftime would come with no further scoring, with the seconds ticking down, Del Carril breaks out front yet again and splits the uprights to end the half at 9-4 for Ferne Park. As the teams ride out for the 4th chukka I hear whistles from below my perch, Argentina Polo Tour organizer Pablo Llorente is calling his son over for a word, perhaps he has an idea how Amadeus can get back into this match. Patron Robert Kofler starts the charge from the throw-in, Llorente backing him up and Marambio finishing for Amadeus’ 5th goal. Del Carril, everywhere today, takes yet another run out front and mercilessly pushes the ball through to make it 10-5 for Ferne Park. Amadeus, with their backs to the wall, have no where to go but forward and they do it with resolve. First Terrera finishes, then Llorente with some nice stick-work and a handy painted horse works himself free for another, 10-7. Amadeus ends the chukka with more pressure and draw a foul, they’ll have a chance to close within one more to start the 5th. Alas the attempt sails wide for Amadeus but undeterred they stay at it, working hard, finally Llorente with another well struck ball and a goal, 10-8! The crowd is into this match, beautiful polo from both squads, a pleasure to behold. It looks as if Amadeus was to score another but the crowd’s applause suddenly turns to gasps and groans as the ball is about to cross the goal-line is stepped on by the player’s horse running with it and is flipped back, onto the field and rolls over the end-line…”Increible!!” exclaims the announcer, voicing an opinion shared by the entire crowd…wow. 
As the crowd and probably Amadeus absorb this cruel turn of fate, Miguel del Carril is again on his way to goal and again scores to end a chukka. 11-8 in favour of Ferne Park to enter the 6th and final chukka. The 6th chukka is a blur of action, the crowd groaning, gasping, cheering, fantastic play from both squads. Amadeus pressuring hard to comeback, Ferne Park bending but not breaking and launching occasional attacks of their own, brilliant, beautiful polo! Finally Pablito Llorente finds a crack in the Ferne Park armour and shoots, scoring to bring the game to 11-9. Back and forth the battle wages, furious action, Amadeus straining, Ferne Park still holding. Finally the clock winds down to rousing applause from the crowd, obviously cheering the effort from both squads and appreciating the level of play. 
As the applause dies out, the music builds and the crowd descends the stadium steps to the awards presentation, the open bar and the party below.
Congratulations Ferne Park! A great game to decide the final of the 2nd stage of the Argentina Polo Tour and win the Copa Nespresso.
Most Valuable Player: Miguel del Carril
Best Playing Pony: Shakira (owned by Miguel del Carril)
Thanks for reading.
Chau for now!
Dylan Foster