New Zealand, France and Brazil Take the Points in Day 2 of the Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup 2014
Conditions were perfect going into the second day of the Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup 2014, the winter sun softening the freshly pressed snow at China’s prestigious Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club.
The brass and percussion of the renowned Buenos Aires Marching Band belted out the anthems of New Zealand and the USA, as the two nations saluted the crowds and spurred their ponies to the throw-in of the day’s opening contest.
New Zealand’s Sam Hopkinson scored the only goal of a closely contested opening chukka. Thomas Hunt, New Zealand’s young reserve player and cousin of Fortune Heights Super Nations Cup 2013 MVP John Paul Clarkin, scored from a 40-yard penalty to make it 2 – 0 at the start of the second.
The USA soon narrowed the deficit with a penalty goal, and then thought they had levelled the scores as Thomas Biddle sent a beautifully lofted shot goal-wards, only for the referee to rule it out. A flurry of goalmouth action in the dying seconds saw both teams scoring, setting up a tense final chukka with New Zealand one goal in front at 3 – 2.
The players and ponies gave it their all in a thrilling final six minutes, with USA’s Del Walton finally breaking the deadlock with a brilliant backhand strike to take the match into a penalty shoot-out. With both sides scoring once from three penalty attempts, it went into sudden death. New Zealand’s Christopher Brooks kept his nerve to score the decisive goal and claimed the two points for his team.
France took on Canada in the second match of day two, both teams keen to put in a good performance and improve on their quarterfinal exits in 2013. A galloping score 16 for the Canadians by the experienced Marcelo Abbiati proved the only goal in a tight first chukka. After several spurned chances in the second, France rolled in a close-range penalty and followed up with a frantic goal seconds before the bell to go into the final chukka leading 2 – 1.
The next six minutes of polo were the most open and exciting of the tournament so far. France’s Clément Delfosse scored early and then ran in a powerful second, with Todd Offen from Canada fighting to pull a goal back. But the rampant Delfosse scored yet again, sneaking the ball over the line from the tightest of angles. Canada replied with a well-worked team goal, but trailing 3 – 5 at the 30-second bell had left themselves with too much to do, and France trotted off the field the deserved victors.
The late afternoon sun cast an azure glow over the skyline of Fortune Heights as Brazil took on the highly favoured South Africa side in the day’s final contest. It was Brazil who looked the hungriest in the opening chukka, but it ended tied at one goal each. Brazil’s Renato Junqueira struck a thunderous shot at the start of the second to put his nation ahead. Desperately in need of a goal, South Africa stepped on the gas in the final chukka. Their relentless pressure paid off with less than two minutes on the clock, with Leroux Hendricks somehow finding a gap through the pack to level the scores at two goals each. But just as it seemed that another penalty shoot-out was on the cards, Renato Junqueira galloped down field to score his second, and claimed victory for Brazil.
After two days of competition, all twelve nations have played their first of three preliminary matches. Tomorrow’s match-ups feature England, who demolished Mexico 5 – 1 in their opening match, taking on Australia who have yet to score in the tournament. Defending champions Hong Kong China will face the talented Chilean trio in what promises to be the match of the day, and newcomers Mexico and Spain will do battle in the late afternoon.
Daily polo matches are contested as follows:
Wednesday, 8 January 2014
Results: Hong Kong China vs Spain 6 – 4
Australia vs Chile 0 – 4
England vs Mexico 5 – 1
Thursday, 9 January 2014
Results: New Zealand vs USA 4 – 3
Canada vs France 3 – 5
Brazil vs South Africa 3 – 2