Gold Cup final – 19/07/09

La Bamba De Areco beat favourites Dubai 13 – 10 to win this year’s Gold Cup final at Cowdray Park Polo Club yesterday (Sunday).

The game got off to an unpromising start, with ten whistles in the first chukka, resulting in three goals from penalties for Dubai. The second chukka was also hampered by fouling, but saw La Bamba get back into the game after Facundo Pieres converted two penalties for his team. Going into the third, La Bamba were trailing by just one goal (3-2).

Conditions for both teams were less than favourable, a strong wind and squally showers meant several shots at goal were blown wide and the wet weather made the ground treacherous in parts and very lumpy. Indeed, ground staff trod in after the second chukka and the crowd, that was far smaller than in previous years, did a superb job at half-time.

The third chukka saw Cristian Laprida steal the ball and score the game’s first field goal for Dubai, followed quickly by another from team-mate Adolfo Cambiaso. Gonzalito Pieres showed his prowess by scoring for La Bamba. A great conversion of a sixty yard penalty by his brother, Facundo saw La Bamba firmly back in contention, trailing by just a goal (5-4).

The Pieres brothers were on top form, with Facundo managing to break free and run all the way to goal to score and equalise with a brilliant field goal. More superb polo by Facu and Gonzo resulted in La Bamba going ahead 6 – 5 at half-time.

However, no sooner was the ball thrown in for the start of the fourth chukka, than Cambiaso levelled again. However, Facu was determined that La Bamba should stay ahead and scored once more. Goals from Cambiaso and Laprida then saw Dubai go a goal up, and a classic goal from Martin Valent saw Dubai with a two goal advantage (9-7) at the end of the fourth chukka.

Slight drama marked the start of the fifth chukka, with Cambiaso taking a knock to the face, but after some footballer-style rolling around, he re-mounted only to see Dubai’s lead reduced after a cracking goal from Gonzalito. Indeed, Gonzo broke free to run the length of the field to level. Not to be out done, Facundo then added to La Bamba’s total, pushing them into the lead once more. Cambiaso was then the victim of a fairly rough ride-off by Facu, resulting in more rolling around, but this time his team gained a 30 yard penalty, which Laprida converted to level 10 – 10. But, just before the bell, Facundo converted a penalty 3 for La Bamba to take the lead 11 -10 going into the final chukka.

The start of the sixth saw Adolfo miss a sixty yard penalty, that really was blown wide and shouldn’t reflect on his impeccable penalty record. Indeed, mid-way through the sixth, Cambiaso failed to convert a further sixty yard penalty, both of which turned out to be crucial for Dubai. Gonzalito Pieres really played like an eleven goaler in the final chukka, stealing the ball and scoring first at one end of the field and then the other, pushing La Bamba three goals ahead, thus providing an insurmountable target for Dubai.

Jean Francois Decaux, patron of La Bamba, celebrated his win by throwing himself off his horse and lying flat out in the middle of the field! He was one very happy Frenchman.