By the close of the second weekend of the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship, all sixteen teams had played three matches each. Only three teams have won all of their matches – Dubai, Salkeld and Sumaya.
The later Gold Cup match at Manor Farm saw a faster and much tougher battle between Piaget and Zacara.The scoring opened with a 60 yard safety from Joaquin Pittaluga for Piaget followed by his first field goal. A goal from Cristian Laprida followed and already the side were three goals ahead before Hilario Ulloa opened the scoring for Zacara. Two goals apiece came in the second chukka, but the third saw the ball see-saw from one side of the pitch to the other resulting in only one goal on the board for Piaget and a score of 6-3 in their favour by half time.
After the tread-in Zacara managed to save a penalty shot aimed at the goal by Piaget. Gathering up the ball from the scrum Nachi du Plessis thundered down to the opposite goal to score for Zacara. But next came an almighty swing at the ball from Pittaluga resulting in a fantastic goal from a difficult angle. Laprida soon worked a very slick move to carry the ball to goal once again for Piaget and a score of 8-4 on the board closed the 4th.
Chukka 5 saw both sides continuing to attack, the pressure never abating and Zacara benefiting from a 40 yard penalty and a good field goal from Ulloa. But just as the chukka was about to close Piaget’s Muzzio with great flair picked up a ball on the first bell and managed to score before the second had sounded putting Piaget ahead 9-6. The final chukka saw an all-out effort by both teams. Backwards and forwards swung the action, Zacara finally being rewarded with a penalty which du Plessis managed to put through the posts, having missed two of his earlier 60 yard shots. One of the toughest matches we have seen in the tournament finished with Piaget the victors at 9-7. Zacara and Piaget now have two wins each to their credit.
Piaget Team
Alejandro Muzzio 7
Cristian Laprida 8
Joaquin Pittaluga 7
Stefano Marsaglia 0
Zacara Team
Manuel Plaza de Ayala 4
Lyndon Lea 1
Hillario Ulloa 9
Ignatius Plessis 8