Monterosso and King Power Control the Competition for Queen’s Cup Wins
Continuing action in the Queen’s Cup at Guards Polo Club in Windsor, Berkshire, reigning Prince of Wales Trophy champions Twelve Oaks made their tournament debut against Monterosso. Led by new edition Poroto Cambiaso, Monterosso jumped out to a commanding start and were able to build on their comfortable five-goal halftime lead to take the match 14-11. In the second contest of doubleheader, Nico Pieres got King Power out to an early lead where the efforts of 9-goaler Marques de Riscal’s Sapo Caset fell just short of a second half comeback, as King Power’s potent offense delivered the 13-10 victory.
Kick-starting play at The Castle Ground at Flemish Farm, a roster change for Monterosso brought the young Cambiaso into the line-up in place of Pelon Stirling, resulting in a one-goal on handicap. Quickly adding to their advantage, Monterosso raced out to a 4-0 lead and carried their strong play throughout the first half. Ignacio Toccalino and Cambiaso combined for seven of Monterosso’s eight goals in the half while the team finished a perfect 6 for 6 from the field and 2 for 2 from the penalty line to extend the lead to five. A yellow card given to Toccalino and two penalty conversions for Twelve Oaks’ Joaquin Pittaluga in the third chukka helped overcome the slow start as they began to match Monterosso stride-for-stride. Holding Twelve Oaks to just two goals in the third chukker, Monterosso emerged at the half carrying a 9-4 advantage into the break.
A booming pass from Poroto Cambiaso sprung Toccalino on a breakaway to open the scoring in the second half, but Twelve Oaks quickly recovered, turning to Pittaluga and Magoo Laprida to try and fight back within reach. Despite 10 combined goals from the duo, Monterosso took advantage of nearly every opportunity in the game, finishing an astounding 83% from the field to complete the 14-11 triumph.
In the second match of the doubleheader, newcomer to the high-goal stage, Marques de Riscal, led by 9-goaler Caset met King Power at Noel Farm in their 2022 debuts. Top Srivaddhanaprabha enters the season with three new teammates in Mackenzie Weisz, Pieres and James Harper, but they quickly demonstrated King Power is a team to watch in the Cartier Queen’s Cup. Scoring the first five goals of the game, four of which came from Pieres, gave King Power a commanding lead. However, Marques de Riscal showed their resilience and held the potent King Power attack to carry a three goal 3-6 deficit into halftime.
Relying on four penalty conversions from Caset, Marques de Riscal fought back within one, trailing by one at end of the fourth chukka. Returning to the quick, passing style of play that proved to be successful early in the game, King Power exploded for four goals, including a tally from Srivaddhanaprabha in a decisive fifth chukka. Playing from behind throughout the game, Marques de Riscal made a final push to begin the sixth chukka, pulling back within two after a goal from Facundo Llosa, but the well-balanced King Power offense secured the 13-10 victory.
Cartier Queen’s Cup competition continues May 19, with Great Oaks LL facing Scone Polo at Les Lions followed by Vikings at Murus Sanctus at TBC.
Photo Credit ©Images of Polo