G U T T E R C R E D I T I N H E R E
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A C T I O N
R I C A R D O M OT R A N
BRUNE I WAS FAVOUR I TE TO WI N THE GOLD CUP
AND AS THE TOURNAMENT PROGRES SED I T
SEEMED THE Y WOULD GO A L L THE WAY
not marred, and Polito Pieres, playing off
10-goals, was called in to replace the La
Dolfina champion. Playing alongside his
cousin, 19-year-old Tomás Panelo, and
23-year-old Tommy Beresford, Pieres and
Prince Mateen qualified for the high-goal
Silver Cup final, where they faced Brunei.
Bahar’s teammates, generously
handicapped as they were, boasted a superb
mix of experience and youth, with 10-goaler
Juan Martín Nero setting the tone, Santi
Stirling working hard in midfield, and
16-year-old wonder boy Camilo ‘Jeta’
Castagnola executing every play.They
beat MB Polo by one in the last seconds
of the final to win the second high-goal
trophy of the season.
Brunei, undefeated so far in the
competition, were favourite to win the Gold
Cup, and as the tournament progressed,
it seemed that they would go all the way.
The two Brunei-based organisations met
once again in the final, and that’s when the
dance began. Prince Bahar Jefri scored
the first goal, but MB replied quickly, as an
approach shot by Pieres set Panelo up for
goal. While Panelo has played regularly in
the States and in Dubai, this was his first
high-goal season in Sotogrande. His excellent
riding skills and ability to be in the right
place at the right time put MB Polo on the
scoreboard, and while Brunei managed to
secure a two-goal advantage in the third, MB
kept their cool and mounted their attack.
With Pablo Mac Donough in the wings
offering strategies and suggestions, MB Polo
started the fourth fully focused. Castagnola
still posed a threat in attack, but Panelo’s
offensive talent came through and MB took
control of the game. Beresford scored a
crucial goal in the sixth to take his team up by
two (8-6), and Polito sealed the deal with his
only conversion of the match.The bell rang
and golden glory rained over MB Polo, giving
all players their first high-goal Gold Cup title.
Opposite page:
Tommy
Beresford dribbles the ball
in front of Jetta Castagnola
.
This page, from left:
Tomás
Panelo, Prince Mateen,
Polito Pieres and
Tommy Beresford
