ENGLAND V SOUTH AMERICA INTERNATIONAL POLO MATCH AT COWDRAY PARK POLO CLUB, MIDHURST, ENGLAND
By JOANNE HEARN Pictures by Nigel Kaye
The match between England and South America was preceded by the final of the British Ladies Open tournament sponsored by Audi. Spectators were amazed at the speed and determination of the lady finalists. The teams were Audi and Cadenza. Audi were aiming for a repeat of last year when they won this prestigious ladies tournament. Playing for Audi were Teresa Beresford (-1), Clare Milford Haven (0), Nina Clarkin (3) and at BK Vanessa Taylor (0). For Cadenza, the team was Alice Gipps (0), Erika Hodges (0), Sarah Wiseman (0) and at BK Marianela Castagnola. This four chukka match was so evenly matched but Cadenza just had the final edge and they beat Audi 6-5.
The huge crowd then tucked into their picnic lunches before the main match commenced at 3 pm, which was in aid of the charity “Dreams Come True” which was set up to fulfil the dreams of children terminally ill in the UK. Playing for England in white were Captain Luke Tomlinson (7), Malcolm Borwick (6), Satnam Dhillon (6) and at BK Nacho Gonzalez (6) and for South America playing in yellow, Captain Santiago Gaztambide (7), Andrea Vianini (7), Bautista Sorsana (5) and at BK Gaston Moore (7).
England had a one goal advantage in this high goal six chukka international match and within seconds Luke Tomlinson scored to make the score 2-0 to England followed by a penalty shot by Malcolm Borwick to increase England’s lead to 3-0 in the first chukka. The second chukka saw a 40 yard penalty shot by Malcolm Borwick put England further into the lead 4-0. South America were under serious pressure from England in this chukka which ended with England 4-0 in the lead. In the third, South America woke up and scored a goal followed by a further goal from England and then Gaston Moore scored a fantastic gaol from a penalty shot and the score at half time was 5-2 to England.
Following the traditional treading of the divots, the second half of the match commenced and both England and South America scored in the first minute making the score 6-3 still to England. South America were really putting up a good fight in this chukka and they scored the next two goals from penalty shots to close the gap to 6-5 to England. Putting England under serious pressure and just before the bell was rung at the end of the fourth chukka South America scored again to make it all square at the end of the fourth chukka 6-6.
The fifth chukka belonged to Malcolm Borwick as he scored two great goals for England followed by a goal from South America. Satnam Dhillon then scores which could make a difference to the end result of this match as the score was 9-7 to England but South America scores again and at the end of this fifth chukka the score was 9-8 to England. The sixth chukka saw Gaston Moore score for South America making the score all square once again at 9-9. South America scores once more followed by a brilliant goal by Bautista Sorsana then another by Satnam Dhillon, the score couldn’t be closer at 11-10 to South America. England were playing fast and furious – what had happened to their lead – it was not to be as Andrea Vianini scored the winning goal for South America who won the match 12-10. South America came back in the second half like dynamite.
Philip Pride from ‘Dreams Come True’ presented the trophy to South America. The ‘Most Valuable Player’ was Andrea Vianini and the ‘Best Playing Pony’ was Forest ridden by Vianini.
