Extra time win for Richard Mille in British Open
By Herbert Spencer
Prince Bahar Jefri of Brunei’s Richard Mille beat Jean-François Decaux’s La Bamba de Areco 12-11 Wednesday in a close encounter that went to seven chukkas in their league match of the British Open Championship for the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup at Cowdray Park Polo Club.
In the opening chukka La Bamba de Areco’s 10-goaler Facundo Pieres scored first before Richard Mille equalised and took the lead. A goal by La Bamba de Areco patron Decaux tied it up and his team had the lead 3-2 at the bell. They then kept the advantage 5-4 in the second period.
Richard Mille outscored their opponents in the third chukka to take a 7-6 lead at halftime and kept ahead 9-7 in the fourth and 10-9 in the fifth period.
Pieres converted two 60-yard penalties in the sixth chukka to equalise and push the game into extra time. Richard Mille’s 10-goaler Pablo MacDonough scored the golden goal to give his team their win.
Scores in the day’s other league matches were EFG Bank Aravali 13, Les Lions 9; Cortium 9, Dubai 7; Zacara 9, Talandracas 7; and Ellerston 10, Thai Polo 8.
League play concludes Thursday when Piaget play El Remanso and Sumaya meet Coca-Cola.