Great wins for Zacara and King Power Foxes on day 5 of the Cartier Queen’s Cup
Zacara 13 – 8 Sifani at Zacara
Pablo Macdonough was on good form for Zacara in their comprehensive victory over Sifani at lunchtime today. Hilali Noordeen’s squad were looking for their first win in this year’s tournament, but were no match for an impressive, and on-form Zacara team at home. Luke Tomlinson tried hard to keep Sifani, who received one goal on handicap, in the game, scoring five of his side’s nine goals, but the former England captain was no match for the 10-goaler McDonough. He was responsible for eight of his side’s goals and is continuing to make sure that Zacara are definitely a team to be feared as this tournament heats up. Sifani were at one point seven goals adrift and although they managed to claw back some of the deficit, it was clear that Lyndon Lea’s Zacara, winners of this Cup in 2013 and 2014, would be registering two wins out of two.
King Power Foxes 11 – 9 Talandracas at Guards Polo Club. The winner received the Kerry Packer Trophy.
Talandracas gave the current holders of the Cartier Queen’s Cup a bit of a scare this afternoon, putting up a tough opposition and not allowing King Power Foxes to rest on their laurels at any time in these six chukkkas. Such was the strength of the Talandracas attack that King Power failed to score at all in the second chukka, giving Edouard Carmignac’s side a 4-2 lead going into the third. They were able to keep their advantage by just one goal (5-4) going into half-time thanks to some great teamwork. Tommy Beresford especially was on great form for Talandracas, playing well above his four-goal handicap, much to the delight of his many supporters in the grandstands.
Not surprisingly you can never write off the King Power side, with its impressive combination of Gonzalito and Facundo Pieres, and they fired through three goals in the fourth, to only one in reply from Talandracas to take the lead for the first time in this match. Things changed again in the fifth with Talandracas shooting through three to only one from the Foxes and so this was clearly anyone’s game. Both teams had already notched up a win apiece – King Power beat La Indiana and Talandracas narrowly defeated HB polo – and so they were both eager to register that all important second win and reduce the pressure somewhat. Sadly the pressure seemed too much for Talandracas in the final minutes of the match as they failed to score at all in the sixth chukka. Meanwhile the Foxes shot through another three goals to win the match 11-9.
Ros Packer, the widow of Kerry Packer, was watching this game from the Royal Box and presented the trophy to Guy Schwarzenbach, who was again standing in for Foxes’ patron Top Srivaddhanaprabha. This trophy is named in memory of one of the biggest names in the modern game of polo and himself a winner of the Queen’s Cup twice (1991 and 1996) with Ellerston. Of course the Ellerston team has won the trophy an incredible six times, invariable with a Pieres (or two) in its line-up.
Next matches in the Cartier Queen’s Cup – Tuesday 24th May
2pm La Bamba de Areco v La Indiana at Cowdray
3pm Britannia El Remanso v Dubai at Guards Polo Club