Dubai, Ayala advance to Cartier Queen’s Cup semis
By Herbert Spencer
Rashid Albwardy’s Dubai squeaked past Jerome Wirth’s Enigma 10-9 Sunday to earn a place in the semi-finals of the Cartier Queen’s Cup at Guards Polo Club.
Dubai was spearheaded by 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso while Enigma’s star player was Juan Martin Nero, also 10.
Enigma led Dubai 2-1 in the first chukka, but the match was tied 3-3 by the end of the second period.
Dubai outscored Enigma by five goals to two in the next two chukkas, with four goals by Ignacio Heguy and a fifth by 2-goaler Alex White, to take a commanding 8-5 lead. Scoring was equal in the fifth period, leaving Dubai with a 9-6 advantage.
Heguy scored Dubai’s only goal in the sixth and final period. Enigma rallied with two goals from Nero and a third from Matias MacDonough, but their comeback came too late to save the game.
Eight-goaler Heguy was Dubai’s high scorer, chalking up 6 of their 10 points.
Meanwhile Iñigo Zobel’s Ayala beat Prince Bahar Jefri’s Richard Mille 15-11 to advance to the Cartier Queen’s Cup semi-finals.
Semi-final matches on Wednesday, 13 June, will be Dubai v El Remanso and EFG Bank Aravali v Ayala. The final of the Cartier Queen’s Cup is on 17 June.