Cortium pip Richard Mille in British Open leagues
By Herbert Spencer
Adrian Kirby’s Cortium squeezed past Prince Bahar Jefri of Brunei’s Richard Mille 9-8 Monday in the British Open Championship for the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup at Cowdray Park Polo Club, with the lead changing several times.
Cortium drew first blood in the opening chukka before Richard Mille’s 10-goaler Pablo MacDonough equalised and their Tomas Garcia del Rio put the team ahead 2-1. Scoring was equal in the second period, leaving Richard Mille ahead 3-2. Cortium equalised and went ahead in the third chukka before Richard Mille’s MacDonough and del Rio scored to even the match 5-5 at halftime.
The teams scored one apiece in the fourth period to keep the game tied up 6-6 at the end of the fourth period. Cortium’s Polito Pieres scored three points against one by Richard Mille in the fifth chukka, giving Cortium a 9-7 lead.
Richard Mille held Cortium scoreless in the sixth and final chukka and del Rio added one for Prince Bahar’s side, but it was not enough to prevent Cortium’s victory.
In the day’s other league matches, Joachim Gottschalk’s Les Lions downed Will Johnston’s Coca-Cola 13-9 and Nick Clarke’s Salkeld beat Eduardo Carmignac’s Talandracas 12-9.
League play continues Tuesday when titleholders Zacara meet Enigma and Ellerston play El Remanso.