Cartier International Guards Polo Club
Smith’s Law, Windsor Great Park – Sunday, July 27th
BY Joanne Hearn, Photos by Nigel Kaye
Over 25,000 spectators descended on Guards Polo Club in sizzling heat for the Cartier International Day 2008. This year it was England v Australia battling it out for the Coronation Cup. This is the second time that these two teams have met in the last three years and last time the victors were Australia. England had high hopes for this match having won against New Zealand last month. Cartier have sponsored this event for the last 24 years.
The Honourable Artillery Company led the two teams out onto the Queens Ground just after 3.15 pm. Playing for England were James Beim (6), Mark Tomlinson (7), Malcolm Borwick (6) and back Luke Tomlinson (7). For Australia, Rob Archibald (6), Ruki Baillieu (7), Glen Gilmore (7) and back Damien Johnson (6).
Damien Johnston scores first for Australia to put them in the lead, however, not for long as England’s team captain, Luke Tomlinson equalised, followed by a brilliant goal by James Beim to put England ahead 2-1 at the end of the first chukka.
Two more goals from England in the second chukka gave them a lead of 4-1 but with seconds to spare before the hooter sounded for the end of the chukka Ruki Baillieu scored for Australia.
At the start of the third chukka with Australia trailing by two goals, they came out fighting and scored within minutes, but England followed this up with a goal with seconds to go before half time.
Australian Captain, Glen Gilmore, scored at the start of the fourth chukka bringing his team to a one goal difference followed by a goal by Ruki Baillieu to make the score all square. The Australian team were extremely dominant in this chukka, however James Beim scored an awesome goal for England which was a result of brilliant team work by the England squad, however Ruki Baillieu scored again to bring the score to all square again at 6-6 at the end of the chukka.
England scored three goals, much to the delight of the spectators, straight off in the fifth chukka to increase their lead to 9-6, however, once again Ruki Baillieu for Australia scored at the end of the chukka. England still lead at the end of this fifth chukka 9-7.
Into the sixth chukka, Malcolm Borwick scored from a badly bouncing ball to keep England in the lead, followed by Australia scoring, however still trailing by two goals – Glen Gilmore scored again for Australia. Although the crowd would have loved this match to go to a seventh chukka – time ran out for Australia and England won the Coronation Cup 10-9.
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales presented the Coronation Cup to England.
