Cartier International China Polo Challenge Day Two
12th October 2012
The Cartier team won the first penalty shootout to be held during a Cartier polo event anywhere in the world. Juan Jose Brane’s sharp shooting ensured that Cartier finished the league stages of the Cartier International China Polo Challenge at the top of the table, scoring two wins out of two. Cartier had found themselves in this unusual position after Nan Liu and Top Raksriaksorn’s Tang Polo had matched Cartier goal for goal, making the score 4-4 at the end of the fourth chukka. It was a similar story in the penalty shootout, with the teams matching each other at both 40 and 60 yards. However Brane kept his cool when the umpires called for the golden goal scenario, hitting the ball clean between the posts. Cartier will now play Equus & Co in the first semi-final of the Cartier International China Polo Challenge tomorrow at Tang Polo Club.
Although today’s first league game was not quite so dramatic, it was another close game. Dorchester Collection, co-patroned by Kim Richardson and Jonathan Munro Ford, defeated Alex Brodie and Aron Harilela’s Equus & Co 8-7 on ground 2. Dorchester Collection’s win today ensures them a third place finish in the league stages of the tournament and sets them up for a semi-final against Tang Polo Club tomorrow.
Peter Wood, General Manager Tang Polo Club, generously presented the prizes after both matches, which included presenting a winner’s prize to his own Chairman Shilai Liu.
Tomorrow: Cartier International China Polo Challenge Semi-Finals: Cartier v Equus & Co at 2pm; Tang Polo v Dorchester Collection at 3.30pm.
Cartier: Shilai Liu (0); Adriano Agosti (1); Juan Jose Brane (7); Ramiro Garcia Dagna (4)
Tang Polo: Nan Liu (0); Top Raksriarksorn (0); Horacio Etcheverry (6); Lucas Lujan (4).
Dorchester Collection: Jonathan Munro Ford (-1); Kim Richardson (1); Chris Hyde (6); Jack Richardson (4).
Equus & Co: Aron Harilela (1); Alex Brodie (1); Oliver Hipwood (5); Roddy Matthews (3).