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The games between Sainte-Mesme and In The Wings are become a Clásico in France, a saying affirmed by Robert Strom, and which we could hardly argue. The two teams face each other regularly, especially in this French Open, just like in 2009 where Sainte-Mesme won their first final. During the zone games, the two teams played against one another and once again, In The Wings had to bow down to its French opponent, with only one goal of difference after a spectacular game. “This time, the match was a bit less open” acknowledged the young Sainte-Mesme captain, Robert Storm, one of the best players in France with a Handicap 5. “A final is always more hooked, it was a more violent, a closed game of polo. In The Wings is one the great team in France and when we face them, it always lead to very good games. Santiago Cernadas and Pelayo Berazadi played really well. We were aware of the competitiveness of our opponent, the players won together in Deauville whereas, on our side we never played together before. But we knew each other very well and we get along perfectly outside of the field. I was convinced that this team will work!” Therefore, Robert Strom and his teammates took In The Wings to the throat, starting the first part of the game perfectly, which they after dominated entirely. After the third chukker, Santiago Cernadas involuntarily hit, with his own mallet, the hand of the backbone of their opponent team, Pancho Bensadon. It really wasn’t a bad move, as it was not targeted, but the player had to be excluded for two minutes, an action that allowed In The Wings to score a goal and equalized the points.
The end of the game gave place to a harsh battle where Sainte-Mesme took back the advantage, while Pancho and his son Rufino Bensadon fought and multiplied the hard shocks that the French players pushed one at the time on the defensive. Once more, the Clásico ended on a small difference: 10 to 9. “This victory is important for us” said the Robert Strom, “because it has been too long since we won this tournament. Since 2009, year of our first win, we only played one other final in 2014, lost in an additional period. We were starting to get impatient!”
Best horse of the final: Venuziana,8 years-old Argentinian mare, ridden by Pancho Besadon and bred by Javier Tanoira
In The Wings: Rufino Bensadon (ARG, H4), Alfonso Pieres (ARG, H4), Pancho Bensadon ARG, H8) a André Fabre, (FRA, H0)
Sainte Mesme : Robert Strom (FRA H5), Santiago Cernadas (ARG, H6), Pelayo Berazadi (ESP, H5) and Rafael Cabezas (ESP, H0)
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