Published on 06/07/09 at 09:50PM
The Sumaya v Habtoor quarter final was dominated by penalties – 50 recorded in the two-hour match. Not a record for Cowdray Park, where this match was held (that apparently is 57) but a huge number all the same. Tony Ramirez of Images of Polo (www.imagesofpolo.com), who was watching the game, put it down to the fact that both teams were desperate to win.
Sumaya dominated the game, leading 3-0 in the first chukka and extending that lead to 6-4 at half time. They then expanded their lead by the end of the fifth so the scoreboard was reading 14 – 6, thanks mostly to goals from Ulloa and Du Plessis. Habtoor, one of the new teams in this year’s high-goal season, looked well beaten, but Nacho Gonzalez successfully converted five penalties in the last seven minutes to bring them right back into the game. Unfortunately time was against them and it is Sumaya who will play Dubai in Wednesday’s semi-final.
Sumaya: Ahmad Aboughazale (1); Hilario Ulloa (7); Milo Fernandez Araujo (8); Ignus Du Plessis (6). Habtoor: Rashid Al Habtoor (0); Alejandro Muzzio (8); Piki Alberdi (8); Nacho Gonzalez (6).
Apes Hill started this game in dominant form, leading 5-2 by the end of the first chukka. La Bamba de Areco seemed to struggle to find their form, while Apes Hill’s Juan Gris Zavaleta seemed to get better and better as the weather deteriorated. Facundo Pieres brought La Bamba back into the contention in the third finding the equalizer at 6-all, only for Zavaleta to score just before the half-time bell. Zavaleta scored again at the start of the fourth and then the teams had to take a short break while torrential rain and unseasonal hail pelted the Queen’s Ground at Guards Polo Club. Despite the weather the spectators remained in the stands as they realised that this was going to be a really great game.
Charlie Hanbury, who was playing well above his handicap, produced some great play once the game resumed to give Apes Hill a three-goal advantage. The Pieres boys decided this was the moment to show everyone why they are both 10 goals. Some great play from them resulted in three goals and the scores were level once again.
However Apes Hill was also able to boast some great sibling skills and excellent teamwork from Luke and Mark Tomlinson gave Apes Hill the edge once more, with goals from both brothers. After another delay due to more torrential rain, Luke returned to the field and scored while Facundo successfully converted a penalty. The sixth chukka started with the scoreboard reading 12-10 and everyone knew that this game could still go either way, especially when Hanbury’s shot went wide and the Pieres boys continued to play at the top of their game despite the cold and damp conditions. However it was Luke who found the flags in this chukka to ensure Apes Hill’s ticket to the next round and a game against Lechuza Caracas next Wednesday at Guards Polo Club.
Apes Hill: Charlie Hanbury (3); Mark Tomlinson (6); Juan Gris Zavaleta (6); Luke Tomlinson (7). La Bamba de Areco: Jean Francois Decaux (0); Gonzalito Pieres (10); Facundo Pieres (10); Tomas Garbarini (1).
Published on 06/06/09 at 07:27PM
Both Dubai and Lechuza Caracas notched up victories in the Harcourt Developments Queen’s Cup quarter-finals to earn themselves semi-final tickets. Lechuza had a straightforward passage through to the next stage with a 13-9 win over Les Lions. Unfortunately it was not Les Lions l’s day and they struggled to find their earlier form.
There was more drama in the Dubai v Broncos game. Broncos stuggled to get into the game in the early stages and were 8-1 down after the third chukka. It did not help them that Adolfo had found his form and was scoring field goals and penalties aplenty. However Pablo MacDonough was not prepared to go down without a fight in the second half and Broncos came back into the game with both MacDonough and Santiago Chavanne scoring. Christian Laprida successfully converted two penalties fthough to retain Dubai’s advantage.
Unfortunately for Dubai Cambiaso aggravated his riding muscle injury and, much to his frustration, he was unable to continue in the game. Fortunately Juan Martin Nero was on hand to take his place. This was possible as Juan Martin, the lynchpin of the Loro Piana, is now able to play as Loro Piana team are now out of The Queen’s Cup competition.
Broncos used the team change to their advantage and MacDonough, ably supported by Chavanne, closed the gap to 11-8 by the end of the fifth. Even though Nero had no problems settling into the rhythm of this game, it was apparent that Dubai were missing their key player, and suddenly it looked as if the game could go either way, especially when MacDonough kicked off the sixth chukka with a goal. However Nero confirmed Dubai’s dominance by scoring a goal to give them a 12-9 victory.
Dubai: Tariq Albwardy (1), Christian Laprida (7); Adolfo Cambiaso/Juan Martin Nero (10); Martin Valent (4). Broncos: Max Routledge (3); Santiago Chavanne (8); Pablo MacDonough (10); George Milford Haven (1).
Lechuza Caracas: Victor Vargas (1); Guillermo Caset (8); Miguel Novillo-Astrada (9); Juan Carlos Harriet (4). Les Lions l: Francisco Elizalde (4); Ignacio Heguy (9); Eduardo Heguy (9); Joachim Gottschalk (0).
Published on 05/25/09 at 06:55PM
Seven league games have been played over the course of this Bank Holiday weekend but the competition still looks wide open. Only Sumaya in League One and Apes Hill in Group One have notched up two victories so far, although it must be stressed that several teams in the latter league (Billingbear Park, Dubai, Lechuza Caracas and Zacara) have only played one game. The picture should become a bit clearer for Group One after tomorrow’s fixtures as Dubai play Billingbear Park at 12noon at Dubai and Lechuza Caracas play Zacara at 3pm at Zacara.
Things are a lot closer in Leagues Two and Three with all four teams showing a victory apiece. With both these leagues teeming with talent it must be a brave man who is ready at this stage to hazard a guess on who will be in action in the quarter-finals, due to be played on 6 – 7 June at Smith’s Lawn.
Published on 05/21/09 at 10:19PM
There was just one game today – George Milford Haven’s Broncos v Nick Clarke’s Salkeld at Trippets Farm. Broncos won the game 10-9 but the final decision remained in doubt until the final whistle as there wasn’t much to call between the two teams for the six chukkas.
The lead swapped between the teams throughout the game. Broncos were leading at half-time 5-3, but Salkeld came back into the game in the fourth, adding four goals to their tally, including two from the stick of Rob Archibald to turn the score to 7-6 in favour of Salkeld. Almost at the end of the sixth, the scoreboard was reading 9-9 and it was still anybody’s game. Then Santiago Chavanne found the winning shot for Broncos just seconds before the final bell.
There is one game tomorrow (Friday) Dubai v Zacara at Guards Polo Club at 3pm.
Published on May 20th, ’09 at 09:23PM
There were four games on day 2 of the Harcourt Developments Queen’s Cup and there were thrills and spills throughout the afternoon.
12noon @ Guards Polo Club: La Bamba de Areco 10 – 11 Sumaya (League One)
Sumaya scored the winning goal right at the end of the sixth chukka. This victory was despite losing Milo Fernandez Araujo in the fourth who suffered a bang to the head. He was replaced by Lucas James. Oussama Aboughazale, Sumaya’s patron, only played in the first three chukkas as he was suffering from a fall earlier in the week. His place was taken by Nick Johnson.
1pm @ Brooksfield: El Remanso 13 – 12 Ravensbourne (League One)
3pm @ Coworth: Lechuza Caracas 13 – 10 Loro Piana (Group 1)
Unfortunately Loro Piana were without their patron as he had to return home unexpectedly and so he was replaced by Matias Logicco (3 goals).
5pm @ Les Lions: Les Lions 1 8 – 9 Enigma (League Three)
This went to an extra chukka as the scores were level at the end of six chukkas. Enigma scored the “golden goal” during the 7th chukka.
There is only one game tomorrow (Thursday): Broncos v Salkeld at Trippetts Farm at 12noon.
Published on May 19th ’09 at 10:54PM
The first matches in the Harcourt Developments Queen’s Cup were played today at Smith’s Lawn and at Les Lions. The results were:
League Two:
Habtoor 10- 9 Talandracas
This game went into extra time and looked as if it was going to go to an eighth chukka as new team Habtoor did not score until six minutes into extra time. Talandracas looked stronger in first half but Habtoor were the more dominant team in the later stages of the game.
Les Lions ll 11- 10 Azzurra
Group 1
Apes Hill 13 – 8 Billingbear Park
Apes Hill were dominant in this game and looked very strong. Great team play from all Apes Hill players.
Source: Guards Polo Club Web Site. Click here for all news from Guards Polo Club.
The Harcourt Developments Queen’s Cup Teams 2009
1. Apes Hill: Charlie Hanbury (3), Mark Tomlinson (6), Juan Gris Zavaleta (6), Luke Tomlinson (7)
2. Azurra: George Merrick (4); Bautista Heguy (9); Marcos Heguy (9); Stefano Marsaglia (0).
3. Billingbear Park: Roger Carlsson (0); Gaston Laulhe (7); Ruki Baillieu (7); Jean Paul Clarkin (8).
4. Broncos: Max Routledge (3); Santiago Chavanne (8); Pablo MacDonough (10); George Milford Haven (1).
5. Dubai: Ali Albwardy (1); Christian “Magoo” Laprida (7); Adolfo Cambiaso (10); Martin Valent (4).
6. Enigma: Jerome Wirth (1); James Beim (7); Matias MacDonough (8); Malcolm Borwick (6).
7. El Remanso: George Hanbury (1); Jaime Huidobro (8); Lolo Castagnola (9); Tom de Bruin (4).
8. Habtoor: Rashid Al Habtoor (0); Alejandro Muzzio (8); Piki Alberdi (8); Nacho Gonzalez (6).
9. La Bamba de Areco: Jean-Francois Decaux (0); Gonzalito Pieres (10); Facundo Pieres (10); Tomas Garbarini (1).
10. Lechuza Caracas: Victor Vargas (1); Guillermo Casset(8); Miguel Novillo Astrada (9); Juan Carlos Harriet (4).
11. Les Lions: Francisco Elizalde (4); Nachi Heguy (9); Eduardo Heguy (9); Joachim Gottschalk (0).
12. Les Lions ll: Chris Mackenzie (2); Augustin Merlos (9); Sebastian Merlos (10); Max Gottschalk (1).
13. Loro Piana/Fise: Alessandro Santucci (0); Alfio Marchini (3); Juan Martin Nero (10); David Stirling (9).
14. Ravensbourne: Adrian Kirby (1); Nicolas Pieres (6); Pite Merlos (9); Fred Mannix jnr (6).
15. Salkeld: Jose Donoso (7); Marcos Di Paola (8); Rob Archibald (6); Nick Clarke (1).
16. Sumaya: Ahmed Aboughazale (1); Hilario Ulloa (7); Milo Fernandez Araujo (8); Ignus Du Plessis (6).
17. Talandracas: Edouard Carmignac (0); Guillermo Terrera (7); Alejandro Agote (7); Lucas Monteverde (8).
18. Zacara: Thomas Meyrick (1); Ignaccio Toccalino (7); Eduardo Novillo Astrada (9); Santiago Laborde (5).