Hosted by Guards Polo Club, Monterosso (Alessandro Bazzoni, Segundo Darritchon, Ignacio Toccalino, Jeronimo de Carril) and Ojo Caliente (Ana Escobedo, Matt Perry, Facundo Sola, John Paul Clarkin) squared-off for the Prince of Wales’s Championship Cup. Played at the 16-goal level, the electric match featured a fast-paced, high scoring affair with del Carril leading the field contributing eight goals on nine shots to deliver Monterosso the 12-11 victory.
Edging their talented opponents in open play, Monterosso’s 46% shooting gave them the clear advantage in the field, but Ojo Caliente utilized their accuracy from the line to send five conversions through the goal to keep them in contention. Ultimately, Monterosso’s ability to overpower Ojo Caliente from the field combined with a phenomenal finish lifted them to the narrow one goal triumph.
Assembling at the prestigious Queen’s Ground, Monterosso ignited the action with back-to-back goals from Toccalino and del Carril. Responding in the second, Ojo Caliente managed to outscore a two-goal effort from Monterosso with three off the mallet of Sola to bring Ojo Caliente within one. In an explosive third, Monterosso’s offence erupted on a four-goal unanswered run, including a Bazzoni hitting the line from the field to add his name to the scoreboard. Holding Ojo Caliente to a single score from Escobedo in the chukker, a spectacular first half for del Carril accounting for four goals and two assists allowed Monterosso to take a comfortable 8-4 lead at the break.
Re-charging in the tent, Ojo Caliente seized control of the fourth chukker, blanking Monterosso for the first time in the match, with Clarkin igniting a four-goal frenzy to tie the contest 8-all. Re-taking the lead for Monterosso by just one in the fifth, Sola’s accuracy from the line sent his first of three conversions in the chukka past the posts to keep Ojo Caliente within reach. Responding to the accuracy of Ojo Caliente’s penalty attempts in the final frame, de Carril pulled through with three crucial scores to stave off Ojo Caliente’s comeback and raise the coveted Talacrest Prince of Wales’s Championship Cup.
Most Valuable Player was awarded to Segundo Darritchon. Lucky Lady, played and owned by Jeronimo de Carril was named Best Playing Pony.
Photo Credit: ©Samuel Churchill