Scone Polo and Vikings Utilize Balanced Offense to Earn Queen’s Cup Victories
Day three of the Queen’s Cup at Guards Polo Club in Windsor featured a doubleheader with four teams making their tournament debut. Initiating the action at Les Lions, 2021 finalists Scone Polo met Justerini & Brooks Prince of Wales Trophy finalists Great Oaks LL. Utilizing their strength Cruz Heguy’s accuracy from the penalty line and a one-goal advantage on handicap, Scone Polo sized the narrow 10-9 victory. Relocating to the Castle Ground at Flemish Farm for the second match-up of the doubleheader, Vikings leading scorer Juan Martin Zubia’s eight penalty conversions outmatched a collaborative effort from Murus Sanctus in the field, with Vikings emerging victorious 12-11.
Substituting for Monterosso’s David Stirling on Wednesday, Adolfo Cambiaso Jnr. (Poroto) was back on the field Thursday for Scone Polo. Kicking off their season without an injured Adolfo Cambiaso, a rearranged line-up of Guillermo Terrera, Kian Hall and Rosendo Torreguitar gave Scone Polo the early advantage with one goal on handicap. Responding to their one goal deficit, Great Oaks LL’s Heguy kick-started their attack with four first half goals, including three penalty conversions to give his team a 5-3 halftime lead.
Scone Polo found their stride in the second half, with contributions from Terrera and Hall combining for four goals in the fourth chukka, along with Cambiaso’s third goal of the match to re-take an 8-5 lead. Following a sharp defensive performance from Scone Polo, Heguy took advantage of Scone Polo’s foul troubles to convert two more conversions from the 40-yard line to keep Great Oaks LL in contention. Matching each other stride-for stride with four goals in open play and three successful conversions each, a final drive from Cambiaso and the handicap differential made all the difference, with Scone Polo emerging victorious 10-9.
In the second contest of the day, Viking’s Zubia found early success from the penalty line in the first half to overcome a slow start in the field, with Vikings only managing two goals from Zubia and Mark Tomlinson on eight shots from open play. Relying on their early accuracy in the field to overcome their five fouls committed in the first half, Murus Sanctus’s trio of Marcos Araya, Facundo Sola and Alfredo Cappella combined for six goals, including two conversions from Sola as the two teams remained deadlocked 6-6 at the break.
Resuming play with grit and determination, goals from Araya and Cappella gave Murus Sanctus a three-goal advantage going into the later stages of the match. Turning the tables to claw back into the lead, Vikings’ Diego Cavanagh hit his first of the match in open play, as Zubia continued to take advantage of Murus Sanctus’s foul troubles. Sending a Penalty 4 through the goal posts, Zubia tied the game at 11-all with six minutes remaining as the two teams remained in a fierce battle until the final seconds. Inside the final minute, a Murus Sanctus foul sent Zubia to the penalty line where he converted his eighth penalty goal as time expired and a triumphant Vikings team captured a 12-11 win.
The Cartier Queen’s cup continues May 20 with Dubai Polo Team facing Thai Polo NP at Coworth Park 1 followed by La Magdaleine versus Clinova at TBC.
Photo Credit ©Images of Polo