Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup 2014 France, Canada and the USA Triumph on Day Four
The Fortune Heights Snow Polo Cup 2014 continued into the fourth day at Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club with Dr. Richard Caleel, President of the Federation of International Polo, taking charge of the throw-in to begin the first match. France, buoyed by their victory against Canada in their opening match on Day Two, faced the challenge of a South Africa side desperate to put points on the board.
A bruising first chukka belonged to South Africa, the only goal driven home by Leroux Hendricks. Hard riding by the French in the second chukka saw a couple of breathless near-misses, but the Gallic pressure paid off with Clément Delfosse converting at close range to even the scores. Agonisingly for France, the final bell denied them a second goal, setting up an exciting final chukka with the scores poised at one each.
The decisive breakthrough came courtesy of inspired play by Pierre-Henri N’Goumou on the flanks, latching on to his own pass and managing to sneak the ball in front of the posts for Clément Delfosse to roll over the line. A goal down, the South Africans threw everything at the French in the dying seconds, but France’s defence stood firm and they left the field the victors.
Speaking after the match, Pierre-Henri N’Goumou was delighted that France had taken maximum points from their opening two games. “It was really tough out there because South Africa are a great team, but we are always trying to improve our game and I think that showed today.†N’Goumou and his teammates now have their sights set on their final match against the USA on Monday. “It will be a big challenge because they have great players, but we have good snow polo experience so we’ve given ourselves a great chance to progress in this tournament.â€
Canada took on New Zealand in the second of the day’s contests. A team change for the Canadians saw their reserve Robert Stenzel replace Marcelo Abbiati, and it was Canada who took first blood in the opening moments. Tom Hunt followed up with a sprightly equaliser for New Zealand, and added another seconds after to put his nation in front. Canada’s Todd Offen missed a gilt-edged chance to go level, making it advantage New Zealand going into the second chukka.
Tom Hunt scored his third of the match after a minute of frantic play in the second chukka to put daylight between the two teams, but the Canadians hung on, substitute Robert Stenzel galloping the ball between the posts to make the scores 3 – 2 to New Zealand.
Stenzel scored again to level the scores in the third, but after sustained pressure by New Zealand, the inspirational Tom Hunt kicked on in a flurry of snow and hooves to score his fourth of the match. Canada weren’t beaten yet, however; Todd Offen nonchalantly floating in a long-range penalty and the vinyl ball hurled precisely as it was told.
Locked at four goals apiece at the final bell, the game went to a penalty shoot-out. This time, however, it wasn’t to be New Zealand’s day, with Canada’s Todd Offen scoring the decisive goal to claim his side’s first points of the tournament.
As fog settled over the snow at the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club, Brazil and the USA took to the field for the final contest of the day. First blood went to the Americans, with an athletic cross-field charge and backhand strike from Pelon Escapite. The scores remained at 1 – 0 throughout a hotly contested first chukka, the USA just about edging it in terms of attacking invention.
Pelon Escapite latched on to a stray ball from Thomas Biddle Jr. to score for the USA in the opening minute of the second chukka. Brazil’s Gustavo Garcia pulled his shot wide shortly after, but teammate Renato Junqueira made no mistake with a well-worked goal midway through the chukka, making the score 2 – 1 to the USA. Junqueria then put the scores level from the penalty spot soon after, and forced another penalty, which he converted to put Brazil ahead for the first time in the match. Seconds before the bell, USA’s Del Walton scooped the ball between the posts from a tight angle to make it level pegging once again.
In the final chukka both teams wasted penalties, but it was Brazil’s Gustavo Garcia who eventually broke the deadlock with a fine goal. Awarded another chance from the penalty spot, Del Walton made it USA’s fourth to force the second shoot out of the day. This time it was the USA who kept their nerve to take the points, scoring all three penalties versus Brazil’s two out of three.
All 12 teams now having played two of their three preliminary matches, Hong Kong China, England and France have taken maximum points, with Australia, Spain and the much-fancied South Africa at the other end yet to register a win. In the penultimate day of group matches tomorrow, it’s make or break time in the tie between Spain and Australia, Hong Kong China take on England and Chile will play Mexico.
The results so far:
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 3 (4) – 3 (3)
Canada vs France 3 – 5
Brazil vs South Africa 3 – 2
Friday, 10 January 2014
Results: England vs Australia 4 – 3
Hong Kong China vs Chile 5 – 4
Mexico vs Spain 4 – 3
Saturday, 11 January 2014
Results: South Africa vs France 1 – 2
New Zealand vs Canada 4 (1) – 4 (2)
Brazil vs USA 4 (2) – 4 (3)