England beats USA, 11-10 in OT; takes Townsend Cup forfirst time
A determined English effort scored an 11-10 win over theUnited States in the 2013 Townsend International Challenge Cup at the EmpirePolo Club in Indio, California and captured the cup for the first time in its90 year history.
England’s Sebastian Dawnay and USA’s Tommy Biddleexchanged opening goals before England went on a run. Dawnay added two more goals and Max Charltonscored to give England a three goal, 4-1 advantage after the first chukker.
The United States got back into it in the second chukkerafter a slow start as Biddle scored twice and Billy Sheldon added a goal. Charlton and Dawnay added single goals asEngland held the lead, 6-4.
A strong third chukker saw the US team tie it up at 7-7with Biddle scoring twice and Rob Yackley getting his first score of thegame. Charlton scored England’s onlygoal of the chukker.
Fourth chukker action saw Dawnay and Yackley exchanginggoals, 8-8. Ensuing goals from Dawnayand Charlton put England on top, 10-8 with less than a minute to play. Biddle scored the last two goals inregulation time, knotting it up at 10-10 and forcing an overtime period.
Both teams agreed to play a 3 minute and 45 secondovertime period. It was agreed that whoeverwas winning at the end of that time would be declared the winner.
Three minutes into overtime, England was awarded apenalty shot. Dawnay’s shot at goal wentwide, and in an effort to control the ball, Sheldon sprang forward. The ballhit his horse and ricocheted into the goal to end the match.
“They were a much better prepared team than they were inour last meeting,†admitted Biddle. “Iworked my but off,†he added. “It wasthe toughest game I ever played,†he admitted. They played great.â€
Dawnay and Biddle each scored seven goals for theirrespective teams. Max Charlton scoredfour times for England while rob Yackley added two goals to the USA column andBilly Sheldon scored once.
Biddle, arena polo’s only 10-goal player, returned toWellington Sunday night and will get a good night’s sleep before preparing forWednesday’s 20-goal match in the Joe Barry Memorial Cup tournament at theInternational Polo Club when he and his Goose Creek (1-0) teammates will faceERG (1-0).