France/Argentina : a symbolic game
Confirmed this morning, then canceled just before noon, the encounter that should have been a celebration between France and Argentina has finally been played thanks to the player’s tenacious will, after a discussion between the leaders of both teams, Argentina Pancho Bensadon and France Brieuc Rigaux: “We couldn’t not play that game because a crowd has come here just for this. We’ll try to play 4 or 5 chukkers, the Argentines have agreed”.
Therefore, right before 2:00pm, the field has dried a little, an announce has been made that an encounter in four periods will be played. A nice gesture from the eight players, who showed in both sides an amazing motivation along the week. The French players knew they were doing a favor not only to the public, but also to the Argentines players. The latest had indeed the all organization on site, horses and players. Which was not the case of the Tricolours: two players were in Paris (and came back in a flash), and the horses had stayed either in Normandy, or in the west-Parisian clubs. It was then that all the professional French players of Chantilly (Adrien LeGallo, Clément Gosset, Edouard Pan) joined forces to lend their horses to their France Team buddies, as only Brieuc Rigaux, and Pierre Henri Ngoumou for a part, had their horses on site. A great solidarity gesture for this team and proof of friendship between the professionals.
The kick-off of this “improvised” game has finally been given at 3:15pm under a pouring rain that had flared up, not ideal to play polo. France has been defeated, as Brieuc Rigaux sums up this way: “We hold in the beginning of the game, but then, we let them the occasion to get confident. Our defense plan, especially on Pancho Bensadon, didn’t hold: too often he was isolated and so he could organize his game just like he wanted. Argentina has players who are more used to play at top-level compared to us but today, it’s clear that the difference of the quality of the horses has really had an impact”.
The result was slightly less important in these conditions (the Argentines think differently): the most important thing is to see the France team get structured, and progressing: a beautiful beginning. A team that we want to see again… Maybe this summer against England? This project is taking shape…
Progression Argentina : (0/1) – 1/1 – 5/3 – 11/4 – 11/6
France: Patrick Paillol (h5), Pierre Henri Ngoumou (h5), Brieuc Rigaux (h6/1 goal) et Clément Delfosse (h5/5 goals).
Argentina : Pancho Bensadon (h8/4 goals), Martin Aguerre Jr (h6/4 goals), Juan Pedro Chavanne (h5/2) et Ignacio Kennedy (h3/1).