Dubai Polo Team and La Magdeleine Triumphant in Queen’s Cup Wins
Resuming play in the Queen’s Cup at Guards Polo Club in Windsor, Berkshire, Friday’s doubleheader kicked-off between Dubai Polo Team and Thai Polo NP, where an eleven-goal performance from Camilo Castagnola delivered Dubai Polo Team the 16-12 victory. Relocating to the Prince’s ground for the second contest of the day, Clinova made their high-goal debut against La Magdaleine. Matching each other stride-for-stride in the first half of play, tournament leading scorer Pablo Mac Donough continued his dominance from the penalty line, where seven conversions from the 10-goaler delivered La Magdaleine a 14-11 win.
Looking to keep their early momentum flowing following a win against La Magdeleine, Dubai Polo Team was back in action in the Cartier Queen’s Cup at Coworth Park. Leading his team in scoring, Castagnola was quick to get Dubai on the scoreboard with two penalty conversions from the 30-yard line. A battle from the penalty line emerged as Thai Polo NP’s Ned Hine answered Castagnola’s success with two conversions of his own, followed by goals from brother Louis and Ignacio Negri. Accounting for five of Dubai’s first half goals, including four from the penalty line, the strong play of Castagnola saw Dubai take a narrow 8-7 lead going into the break.
In a contest that saw twenty-five fouls between the two teams, Castagnola and Ned Hine once again traded conversions in the fourth chukka, with a drive from Matt Perry breaking the stalemate to keep Dubai ahead 10-8. In arguably the most defining moment of the match, Castagnola found some space to three unanswered goals to put Dubai ahead by five. Despite a late push from Ned Hine with three goals in the final chukka, Castagnola finished his day with an astounding 11 goals, moving into second overall in tournament scoring to keep Dubai Polo team undefeated 16-12.
Last playing in the Cartier Queen’s Cup in 2018, a roster refresh for Clinova from the published line up featured the addition of American player Jared Zenni, making his Queen’s Cup debut alongside Luke Wiles, Alejandro Muzzio, and Malcolm Borwick. Facing stiff competition in a La Magdeleine team led by Pablo Mac Donough still searching for their first tournament victory, Mac Donough got his team out to an early lead with three successful conversions. Responding for Clinova, a combined effort from Muzzio and Borwick kept the score tied at 3-all. With only fifteen shots combined from the field in the first half, the success of both teams from the penalty line defined play, as Borwick’s five conversions pushed Clinova ahead to lead 8-7 at halftime.
After nearly three minutes of goalless play to begin the second half, an exceptional knock-in for La Magdeleine sprung Ollie Cudmore on the breakaway to tie the match. Quickly adding two more to their tally, La Magdeleine surged ahead, but the closely contested match carried into the final chukka. Borwick opened the scoring for Clinova in the sixth to bring the game even at 11-all, with the possibility of overtime looming, La Magdeleine turned to tournament-scoring leader Mac Donough to complete two crucial penalty conversions and secure a hard-fought 14-11 victory.
Doubleheader action resumes May 21, as King Power faces Justerini & Brooks Prince of Wales Trophy champions Twelve Oaks, followed by Monterosso against defending Cartier Cup titleholders UAE Polo Team.
Photo Credit ©Images of Polo