Two In A Row: Hong Kong China Defeat England To Win Second Consecutive Fortune Heights Super Nations Cup
To the cheers of China’s growing legions of polo fans, home side Hong Kong China triumphed over England in the grand final of the Fortune Heights Super Nations Cup 2014, beating their rivals 11 – 8 at the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club.
Polo fans could be forgiven for a sense of déjà -vu in what was almost a carbon copy of the Fortune Heights Super Nations Cup 2013 final 12 months ago, when Hong Kong defeated England by 11 goals to 7. England managed one more goal today in what was for the most part an evenly poised contest, but the visitors couldn’t quite match the pace and invention of the local side.
Hong Kong China triumphed by sticking to their tactics, according to Most Valuable Player John-Paul Clarkin at the post-match press conference. “We had a game plan and although it was level at half time we didn’t change it, because we felt we were unlucky not to be ahead. We came through strong in the second half and deserved the win.â€
Playing in red with a white chest stripe, Hong Kong China comprised Argentineans Lucas Lalor and Santiago Cernadas at one and two, with Fortune Heights Super Nations Cup veterans John-Paul Clarkin (New Zealand) and John Fisher (UK), at three and four.
The all-white shirts of England were filled by Jack Richardson, George Meyrick, Max Charlton and Tom Morley; Richardson and Charlton were part of the England side that beat Hong Kong China to win the FIP Snow Polo World Cup here in January.
Bathed in brilliant sunshine, the game exploded into life, Hong Kong China’s John Fisher plucking the ball from under a rampaging Jack Richardson and playing a neat backhand pass to John-Paul Clarkin, who rolled it between the posts for the first score of the day. It was a breathless start and Hong Kong looked the more composed side, Lucas Lalor adding a second goal soon after.
England’s Tom Morley eventually got his team on the score sheet with a 40-yard penalty, and then turned provider, galloping downfield to set up George Meyrick, who dashed inside and managed to retain control of the ball and thwack it home to level the scores seconds before the bell.
Hong Kong China regained the initiative in the second chukka, John-Paul Clarkin scoring with a neat chip from the spot. At the halfway bell, John Fisher latched on to the end of a John-Paul Clarkin pass to drive it home, Hong Kong nosing ahead of England by four goals to two. With England struggling to match the speed and penetration of Hong Kong China in the opening stages, the talismanic Max Charlton took it upon himself to lead the charge, galloping down field and drawing his marker before crossing inside to George Meyrick who hammered it home, cutting England’s deficit to a single goal.
In a flurry of hooves Jack Richardson galloped the length of the pitch early in the third chukka, his pony a blur as he struck it sweetly to level the scores. Hong Kong China’s John Fisher then turned poacher again, stealing the ball from his opponent and playing a neat backhand to put Lucas Lalor through on goal and make it 5 – 4 to the home side. Tom Morley replied with a free-hit from 40 yards; the scores all square at the halfway stage.
Goals came thick and fast after the restart, but mostly for Hong Kong China, who added three in the first three minutes; England caught napping. George Meyrick pulled one back with a smart cut shot a moment later, but Hong Kong China’s John-Paul Clarkin answered in kind with a powerful charge at goal, before Santiago Cernadas put the home side into double figures just before the bell with a hooked goal that sailed high and true.
Hong Kong China battened down the hatches in the fifth chukka, denying England any chance to chip away at their four goal deficit. Then, seconds before the bell, John Fisher, Director of Stable Operations at the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club, scored his third of the game to leave England with a mountain to climb, trailing by five goals going into the final chukka.
England were given a glimmer of hope two minutes into the final period with a penalty goal, and after heaping on the pressure Jack Richardson added another with a minute left on the clock. But it wouldn’t be enough, Hong Kong China holding on to win 11 – 8 and ensure that the Fortune Heights Super Nations Cup will remain in their trophy cabinet for another year at least.
At the closing ceremony, Dr. Richard Caleel, President of the Federation of International Polo, thanked all the players, officials, ponies and staff for making the third Fortune Heights Super Nations Cup a success and helping spur the growth of the sport of polo in China. Most Valuable Player was awarded to Hong Kong China’s John-Paul Clarkin for the second year in a row, the eight-goal star scoring ten times over two games in the tournament. Clarkin was characteristically humble about his achievement: “It could have been any one of these guys, to be honest. It was the team performance that won the day.â€
As is the polo tradition, the ponies had their moment in the limelight, “Best Pony†awarded to ‘Lawyer’, ridden by Hong Kong China.
Polo fans in China can now look ahead to the FIP Snow Polo World Cup 2015, taking place at the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club in January next year.
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Daily polo matches are contested as follows:
Wednesday, 1 October 2014
Result: Hong Kong, China VS USA 13 – 6
Thursday, 2 October 2014
Result: Argentina VS England