Cowdray Park – Duke of Sutherland

The final of the Duke of Sutherland on Saturday was a close-run match on Lawns 1 in the windy conditions.

 

Emlor Red                                                                                      Murus Sanctus

1.    Spencer McCarthy                                                                        1. Corrine Ricard
2.    Max Charlton                                                                                 2. Lucas Nottin  
3.    Juan Ambroggio                                                                            3. Guillermo Caset

Bk. Richard Tyrone                                                                              Bk. Facundo Sola

 

The first chukka saw a super opening goal by Facundo Sola in the first minute to get Murus Sanctus on the board.  Good defensive work in front of the Emlor goal saw Guillermo Caset (Sapo) take the ball all the way to score a second goal.  Weaving his way through the Murus Sanctus defence, Juan Ambroggio tickled the ball through the post, and a 30 yard penalty awarded against Murus Sanctus allowed Max Charlton to roll it over the line and level the score at the end of the first chukka, 2 all.

Chukka 2 was tight and speckled with fouls on both sides and the score ended with 5 goals to Murus Sanctus and 4 to Emlor Red.

Chukka 3 saw Emlor Red take the lead with 2 field goals by Juan Ambroggio and 1 by Max Charlton with Sapo Caset adding another to the Murus Sanctus tally. 

Richard Tyrone did a wonderful run up the field leaving everyone else behind for goal number 8 for his team. Sapo Caset levelled the end of the chukka with a score of 8 all, with everything to play for in the fifth.

A melee in front of the Murus Sanctus goal allowed an eagled eyed Facundo Sola to nip the ball over the line during the commotion. Sapo Caset took a knock in from the back line which was stolen by Spencer McCarthy who, never one to miss an opportunity, decisively turned on a sixpence and whacked it through the goal, making it 9 all going into the final minutes.  Fabulous teamwork by Facundo and Sapo began with Sapo taking a hit in from the back line,  toying with the opposition’s defence they weaved the ball up the pitch into the space that Corrine had made by taking Spencer out of the way. Sapo then raced into position around the Emlor players to score the winning goal riding Trucha, who he had played in the 2^nd and who was awarded Best Playing Pony, with a textbook cut shot.

 

Final Score

Murus Sanctus 10 – Emlor Red 9

 

Stephen Biddlecombe of Equine Management presented a saddle to the Most Valuable Player, Sapo Caset, who also won the Best Playing Pony prize for his mare Trucha.

 

Picture to be credited to Mark Beaumont