Gold Cup Semi-Finals Teams Revealed
By Antje Derks
After four thrilling quarter-finals that did credit to the handicap committee and to polo in general, the teams that will go through to this year’s Gold Cup semi-finals can be revealed. Les Lions II beat Loro Piana by a goal in Saturday’s quarter. According to sources, Juan Martin Nero had pulled a riding muscle which accounted for some of his uncharacteristic miss-hits. There was a plan in place, should he have not been able to carry on, to double substitute him and William Beresford with Lucas James and Henry Fisher. In the end though, this radical move was not necessary.
The first quarter to be played on Sunday took place at the beautiful Trippetts Farm ground between Talandracas and Sumaya. Once again it was a close fought match, with Talandracas in particular playing superbly, both in defence and on the attack. By the sixth chukka both teams were still level pegging, with Talandracas edging ahead, but in the end a superb goal from nothing by Milo Fernandez Araujo saved the day for Sumaya. They beat Talandracas 12 – 11.
After a mad dash to Lawns, crowds were treated to another superb match between La Bamba De Areco and Azzurra. This really was polo how it should be played. Few whistles, great passing and fast spectator friendly runs on the ball. Both the Heguy brothers and the Pieres duo were on sparkling form and there was little to choose between them, with the teams on 8 – 8 going into the sixth chukka. A forty yard penalty taken by Facundo Pieres popped La Bamba in front. Marcos Heguy missed his 60 yarder and Facundo rubbed it in by scoring again for La Bamba, opening up a two goal advantage. Gonza Pieres brought out a Derby winner, showing an amazing turn of speed to score again for La Bamba making it 11 – 8. Bautista Heguy got one back, but Azzurra ran out of time. Final scores: La Bamba De Areco 11; Azzurra 9.
The final match between Dubai and Lechuza Caracas was an entirely different kettle of fish. Dubai lacked team spirit, with Cambiaso playing a solo game and once more the match was ruined by a volley of whistles, but justifiably so, since both teams were hanging about on the line. Therefore, most of the goals scored came from penalties, with the exception of one amazing run by Lechuza Patron, Victor Vargas. He ran the entire length of the field to score a superb goal – one that any ten goaler would admire. It seems a shame that two such great teams weren’t able to put on a better performance for the crowds. Final scores: Dubai 11; Lechuza Caracas 9.
Thus the semi-finals on Thursday will be:
Sumaya v La Bamba De Areco
Les Lions II v Dubai.