McVeigh Parker Tournament 2012

McVeigh Parker Tournament 2012

Date: 8th and 9th December

Handicap: 5-8 goal

Five teams entered this year’s McVeigh Parker Tournament at the All England Polo Club, Hickstead. The Saturday was the semi-finals with one half of the draw played as a straight semi-final match and the other half of the draw as an American style tournament with three teams competing against each other in three, two chukka matches.


The semi-finals were all closely fought games, with only a goal separating each of the teams. APEC Red Tigers won their match against Hincha Pelota to reach the main final on Sunday, and White Knights won both of their two chukka matches against Appaloosa and Mrs B’s respectively. 


The subsidiary final kicked proceedings off on the Sunday. Hincha Pelota took on Appaloosa in the first of the two chukka matches which resulted in a 5-5 draw. Hincha Pelota then had to play Mrs B’s and win in order to stand a chance of winning the sub final. Mrs B’s started slowly but managed to take an 8-3 win. The last of the matches to decide the winner on the sub final was played between Mrs B’s and Appaloosa. Appalooosa had to win this game to take the spoils. They started well and took a 5-1 in the first chukka with some great goals by 6 goal player Will Lucas. Mrs B’s came back fighting in the last chukka with Maxine Betteridge scoring two penalties taking it to 5-3. Mrs B’s managed to scrape a 7-6 goal win with Daniel Acosta scoring the winning goal in the dying seconds.


Next up was the final. AEPC Red Tigers were to take on The White Knights. The game started fairly closely, both teams made tentative attempts at goal but nothing really separated them. APEC Red Tigers sped up their play in the second chukka which seemed to catch The White Knights off guard a little and AEPC Red Tigers took a significant lead with several penalty ones helping them on the scoreboard. The White Knights scored some more goals in the third and fourth chukkas but they couldn’t hold AEPC Red Tigers team work and fast pace at bay. Having dominated from the second chukka AEPC Red Tigers ran out the victors 16-10.