Aussies shine in Gold Cup win
By Herbert Spencer
Adrian Kirby’s Silver Spring 1870 came from behind to defeat Joe Gottschalk’s Les Lions 13-11 in the British Open Championship at Cowdray Park Polo Club Monday, keeping Kirby’s squad in the running for second place in League One for the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup.
Silver Spring, the only one of the 20 teams in contention without a South American and with a magnificent string of ponies from New Zealand and Australia, now have a 2-1 win record, putting them equal with Lyndon Lea’s Zacara after the undefeated group leaders, the Albwardys’ Dubai led by Adolfo Cambiaso.
Australia’s Ruki Baillieu was man of the match, scoring most of Silver Springs’ goals. His teammates from Down Under, Aussie Rob Archibald and New Zealand’s John-Paul Clarkin, as well as patron Kirby, also scored.
The Argentine brothers Eduardo and Nachi Heguy kept Les Lions well in the game for most of the first half, but were unable to hold their advantage from the third chukka on.
In the day’s second match, Edouard Carmagnic’s Talandracas defeated Ed Magor’s Panthers 8-7 when Guillermo Terrera scored the golden goal in extra time. Patron Magor was replaced by Richard Le Poer after being injured in a third-chukka crash with Lucas Monteverdi.