The last three-match day of the 2025 Cartier Queen’s Cup competition delivered some outstanding sport. The polo – and the weather – got better as the day progressed, with the final match going into a sudden-death seventh chukka.
Match 1:
First up was a confident win for Marty Romualdez’s Calatagan LL. They put up an impressive performance, leading from the first chukka, to beat Alexandre Garese’s La Magdeleine. Facundo Pieres reminded everyone on the Duke’s Ground at Guards Polo Club why he is a 10-goal player. He produced some fabulous goals in this match, including a stunning shot that was at least 120 yards from the flags. La Magdeleine’s Jeronimo del Carril worked hard to close the gap in the sixth chukka, but the damage had been done early into this game.
Match 2:
The drama then moved to the Princes’ Ground for Kazak v White Crane. Both teams were looking for their second win and this was their last chance. Played in testing, rainy conditions, Kazak took a narrow, 2-1 lead after the first chukka and stayed in control for the rest of the match. Although Sebastien Aguettant’s team could not relax for a moment as Alexie Calvert-Ansari’s White Crane squad, featuring Polito Pieres, continued to push and fight for possession until the final bell. Fran Elizalde was equally possessive for Kazak, working hard to ensure that it was his team that came out on top.
Match 3:
Last up was an epic battle between Sujan Indian Tigers and Aureus in late afternoon sunshine at Shiplake. The Tigers’ patron Jaisal Singh was unavailable for this game and so his place was taken by the one-goal player Nicholas Van Oppen. Sunjay Kapur’s Aureus, who were hunting down their third win, started this match strongly. Some great teamwork from the Panelo brothers, Tomy and Benjamin, plus a goal from Kapur, put them 5-1 ahead after the first. They were still five goals ahead (10-5) at half-time. Juan Martin Zubia turned this game around in the fourth for Sujan Indian Tigers, closing the gap to just two goals (10-8). The Tigers stayed focused and had reduced the deficit to just one, 11-10, going into the sixth chukka. Tomy Panelo, who had a standout game for Aureus, produced some lovely play to extend the gap back to two goals, only for Zubia to convert a 30-yard penalty. With Juan Britos then flying to goal for the equaliser with a minute left to play, this was now anyone’s game. The bell rang with the scores reading 12-12 and the sixth extra time of the tournament was required to split these two talented teams. The tension was palpable as players rode out for this seventh chukka. It looked as if this game would finish quickly as Benjamin Panelo fired a ball up to his brother who scored. But the whistle had gone before the goal went over the line and so it was disallowed. Some strong play from both teams followed but failed to find to find the flags until Benjamin Panelo once again cleared a ball free to pass up to brother Tomy, who scored the winner. A fitting end to one of the best games of the tournament so far.
All games of the Queens’s Cup can be seen here
Polocam.tv – Quality Streaming Service
Image credit Pablo Ramirez