Queens cup action

Those who attended the Bank Holiday league matches were treated to some top class polo by some of the world´s best players. With a truly international crowd in attendance, it was clear that UK polo is becoming ever more recognised as one of the leading countries in the world for the ancient sport.

La Bamba´s game against Talandracas was closely fought all the way through, with Talandracas taking a strong lead in the first half, thanks to the talent of Luke Tomlinson and Lucas Monteverde, with the team 4-0 up on La Bamba after the first chukka.

Despite La Bamba´s patron, Jean-Francois Decaux, taking a tumble and suffering bruised ribs in the 4th chukka, the Pieres brothers´ teamwork were backed up by substitute George Gemmel, effectively to see them not only equalise the scores, but put a goal in two minutes before the end of the last chukka to win the game by a barely perceptible 12-11.

The game between Dubai and Les Lions was more aggressively played, with strong attacking play all the way through by Rashid Albwardy. Eduardo Heguy seemed to be dominating the pitch, putting in a goal within 3 minutes into the first chukka. With Eduardo´s back firmly defended up by Nachi Heguy from Les Lions and Rashid working the ground with Pablo Macdonough, the teamwork on both side swas evident from the beginning.

Mirroring the previous game, the teams were equal to each other until the last couple of chukkas. The first chukka saw a goal draw of 2 all, while by the end of the second it was 4 all. Cambiaso´s modest playing allowed Rashid Albwardy to excel, and he only stepped in to show off his skillful stickwork and expertise when he was needed.

Surprisingly for two such talented sides, the game was stilted in the second half by lots of fouls and missed goals, most surprisingly penalty shots at goal. It was in the third chukka that Dubai turned it around, pulling into the lead thanks to goals by Rashid Albwardy and Cambiaso.

Still on fire, Rashid Albwardy´s fast and furious attacking saw a one on one between him and Joachim Gottschalk while the others were changing ponies, and even a loose pony couldn't distract from their focus. But by the last chukka, Eduardo Heguy´s goal scoring frenzy was matched by Cambiaso turning up the pressure on the opposition to keep Dubai ahead by one goal, winning them the match 11-10.