Apes Hill and Sumaya through to Queens Cup Semi Finals
By Antje Derks
Apes Hill, the all professional side, sponsored by Sir Cow Williams entered the quarter finals having won all three of their league games. They put on a truly brilliant performance in yesterday’s match against La Bamba De Areco, formerly the Brittany Polo Club, running out the winners 13 – 10.
The match was delayed several times, due to torrential rain and hail. However, such was the excellence of the match that supporters showed great British spirit by staying in the stands to watch the drama unfold.
La Bamba received a goal on handicap, which didn’t do them much good as Juan Gris Zavaleta scored the equaliser for Apes Hill in the opening seconds of the match. By the end of the first chukka, Apes Hill were 5 – 2 in front, despite La Bamba having the combined might of Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres on their team. The Pieres brother won last year’s Queen’s Cup with the Ellerston side.
However, things started to change in the third chukka. La Bamba found something of their previous form and managed to equalise. Unluckily for them, Zavaleta, who looks cheap off his six goal handicap, edged Apes Hill back in front just on the bell.
The fourth chukka was delayed due to hail – yes hail – in the middle of June! During the wait the most qualified “stick chick†of them all, Clare Tomlinson, did her motherly duty and wiped Mark and Luke’s sticks down with a towel, much to the amusement of all watching. Once the match did resume, Zavaleta scored again for Apes Hill, followed by one from Charlie Hanbury, who also played well above his handicap. The Pieres brothers scored a goal apiece, and Facundo slotted another one in to level at 9 – 9 on the bell.
The fifth chukka saw both sides become more aggressive and hungry. Luke and Mark played some amazing polo in blinding rain to push Apes Hill back in front by two goals. The final chukka saw yet another rain delay, and once the action got under way, Facundo missed a 30 yard open goal penalty that even a bad minus two would have got. It was this mistake combined with goals from Luke and Charlie that sealed the deal for Apes Hill. They will face Lechuza Caracas in the semis on Wednesday.
The other quarter final of the day was played out at Cowdray between Habtoor and Sumaya. According to Tony Ramirez, who kept score for me, it was a “bright sunny day, with a slight breeze, making for a very pleasant afternoonâ€. You know what they say; it never rains at Cowdray!
The match was dominated by penalties. 50 in the two-hour match, although this is not a record. Apparently one match played there recorded 57!!! It was probably down to each teams’ desperation to win the match. Sumaya dominated the game in the first chukka and were still in front 6 – 4 by half time. Sumaya expanded their lead to 14 – 6 by the end of the fifth chukka, and despite Nacho Gonzalez successfully converting five penalties in seven minutes, putting them back into contention, but time ran out for Habtoor and it will be Dubai who plays Sumaya at Guards on Wednesday. Final scores Sumaya 14; Habtoor 11.