Cartier Queen’s Cup – Day 10

Two great games at Guards Polo Club this afternoon – one producing a golden result for Salkeld while the other confirmed Dubai’s place in quarter-finals

 

League Three

 

Salkeld 10  – 9  La Bamba De Areco

 

A brilliant shot from England international James Beim in extra time secured Salkeld’s victory in their second league match of this year’s competition. It was such an impressive shot to goal that it was being talked about in the Clubhouse long after the ponies were back in their stables. The game had been close throughout, with neither team managing to get further than two goals ahead at any stage -and that only occurred in the third chukka for Salkeld. Sadly for La Bamba, their 10-goaler, Gonzalito Pieres, was struggling to find his form this afternoon and sent several great shots wide. However both patrons, Jean Francois Decaux for La Bamba and Nick Clarke for Salkeld, were impressive and they both scored in the first chukka. Miguel Novillo Astrada and James Beim worked well together, resulting in several goals for Salkeld. But with the scores reading 6-6 at the end of the fourth, 7-7 at the end of the fifth and 9-9 at the final whistle, extra time was inevitable. Ironically, both teams had lost their first matches in a golden goal scenario and so were eager to win the honours this time around. Beim, who had forced the extra time by scoring the 18^th goal in the sixth chukka, then unleashed his killer shot to keep Salkeld’s hopes alive. Nick Clarke’s team’s last match is a tough one against Black Bears on 5 June but with teamwork like today’s, Salkeld have every chance of making it through to the next stages of this competition. La Bamba will need to win their game against UAE Polo, who are currently leading League Three with two wins, to keep their 2013 campaign hopes alive.

 

League One

 

Dubai 15  – 9 Enigma

 

Dubai earned the second ticket to the quarter-finals of the Cartier Queen’s Cup by defeating Jerome Wirth’s Enigma 15-9 on The Queen’s Ground. They finish runners-up in League One behind El Remanso. However, Enigma, who have not won a match this year, produced a great game and the spectators at Guards Polo Club were treated to a lovely, flowing game of polo that was a pleasure to watch. Guillermo Willington was on great form for Enigma and the final result does not do the Enigma team justice, who continued to fight until the very last whistle. Engima led 3-1 at the end of the first but some great play from Dubai’s young players Alec White and Rashid Albwardy put Dubai ahead 5-4 at the end of the second. Albwardy scored again in the third, as did Adolfo Cambiaso to give the Dubai team a 7-6 lead at half time. Enigma were still very much in the game at this point, but Dubai raised the stakes in the second half. Four goals from Dubai to only one in reply from Enigma did some damage from which Jerome Wirth’s team could not recover. It has to be said that Dubai also had a little bit of luck. For example a Nico Pieres shot hit the post, but Cambiaso picked up the rebound and put it through the flags – great polo. A further three goals from Dubai in the fifth effectively ended Enigma’s 2013 campaign. With both teams scoring only once in the final chukka it was Dubai who won the game and collected their quarter final passes.