First International Test sees England beaten
By Antje Derks
On yesterday’s form, England will really have to pull their socks up if they have any hope of beating Argentina at this year’s Cartier International.
The first International test match of the season is traditionally held at the media-phobic Beaufort Polo Club. This year, England took on Australasia, a team consisting of three Aussies and a Kiwi, hence Australasia.
England received one and a half goals on handicap, and despite the formidable opposition, I had hoped they would recapture last year’s dazzling form, where they were victorious in all three test matches. The line-up had not changed from last year: Beim, Borwick and the Tomlinson boys, all of them great players, this year under the watchful eye of coach Milo Fernandez Araujo.
Some might say that England played a good game, indeed they were 2.5 goals in front at the end of the first chukka and they led for most of the match, sometimes just by their handicap difference, but sometimes with a “genuine†lead.
The problem is that Australasia woke up in the final two chukkas. Glen Gilmore and Ruki Baillieu played brilliantly together, passing and leaving the ball, ably supported by Archibald and JP Clarkin. Even though England only lost by half a goal, they looked completely amateur and untogether in those final two chukkas. Australasia was all over them, and the experience of the four boys from Down Under far outweighed that of our own team. On paper England lost 6.5 – 7, but don’t forget they started with 1.5 goals on the board. Australasia scored all seven of their goals.
The Tomlinsons, James Beim and Malcolm Borwick would do well to look at video footage of the match with their coach to see where things can improve, otherwise Cartier day against Cambiaso et al will be a shambles.
My verdict: Not a complete disaster, but could definitely do better.
