Park Place and Valiente Victorious on Day Four of the Cartier Queen’s Cup
In their opening game of the 2018 Cartier Queen’s Cup, Valiente stormed to an 11-7 victory over Emlor at the Flemish Farm polo ground.
Valiente displayed their elite potential on both sides of the ball as they made a statement in early in the game, holding an 8-0 lead after just two chukkas. Emlor was unable to contain the teamwork and power shown by Valiente as the team led by Adolfo Cambiaso converted 7 of 10 shot attempts in the first half. Winning the set play battle early in the game and capitalizing on Emlor’s unforced errors, Valiente held a commanding lead throughout much of the game to ease to victory.
Beginning with a five-goal chukka, Valiente set the pace in the first half as Cambiaso and Magoo Laprida scored three goals each, along with two goals from Hugo Lewis to race out to an 8-0 lead. Displaying strong knock-ins and controlling possession from dominating the throw-in line, Emlor was consistently on the defensive. Emlor finally found the scoreboard in the third chukka when Agustin Merlos converted a goal from the line and the field, but his team trailed seven goals entering the second half.
Emlor came back fighting as Valiente eased off the gas, due to holding a seven-goal lead. The improved Emlor attack produced 10 shots in the final three chukkas and forced Valiente into committing 13 fouls in the game but were unable to get within striking distance late in the game. Valiente finished with the convincing 11-7 victory to begin their run in the Cartier Queen’s Cup.
The second game of the day provided one of the most exciting games of the tournament thus far as Park Place edged out La Indiana 9-8 on the Queen’s Ground at Guards Polo Club. Both teams tried to dominate the open field where they both excel, as 10-goalers Facundo Pieres and Hilario Ulloa battled it out by quickly running into open space. La Indiana enjoyed numerous opportunities at goal due to the extra possessions provided from winning 16 of 23 throw-ins but converted just 6 of their 15 shot attempts in the game. In a closely fought match, the difference came down to locations of fouls, as La Indiana awarded Park Place with five penalty shot attempts on only six fouls, while La Indiana received just two penalty shots. The team effort of Park Place defensively along with the six-goal performance from Britos led Park Place to the narrow one goal victory.
In the first half, both teams were inaccurate from the field, but Park Place held a 5-4 lead behind the perfect 3 for 3 shooting from the penalty line by Juan Britos. The result of missed shots were knock-ins for both teams and La Indiana struggled to capitalize on their set plays, finding themselves stuck in their own half at times throughout the game. Despite the high defensive pressure in the game, the play continued to flow as there were just five combined fouls in the opening half.
The second half saw another increase in intensity as the game became more physical, with Park Place actively pressuring La Indiana everywhere on the field. Park Place extended their lead to two as Britos added two more goals in the fourth chukka, followed by an even fifth chukka that saw Ulloa and Pieres trade goals. With just minutes left in the game, Britos jumped on an unforced error by La Indiana and finished off the play due to a nice ride-off and second effort from Tommy Beresford, sealing the victory and giving Park Place their first win of the Cartier Queen’s Cup.