Queens Cup – 20/05/09

Despite two injuries, Sumaya victorious over La Bamba

By Antje Derks

The second day of the Harcourt Developments Queen’sCup was action packed to say the least. The first match, which lasted two and ahalf hours, at Guards, between Sumaya and Jean-Francois Decaux’s La Bambaproved very stop-start and accident prone. Sumaya emerged victorious, despitelosing two of their original team and having to field replacements.

The first two chukkas very pretty evenly matched, withSumaya edging ahead 5 – 4 by the start of the third chukka.

The start of the third was delayed when Oussama Aboughazale, Sumaya’s patron, had to retire.He was suffering the after effects of a fall earlier in the week. He wasreplaced by Nick Johnson from Cowdray Park Polo Club. Nick played a veryimpressive game, helping Sumaya to edge two goals in front (6 – 4) by halftime. Mid-way through the fourth chukka, Milo Fernandez suffered a nasty bangto the head, having been fouled by a member of his own team. Milowas carted off in an ambulance, although he later refused to go to hospital. Hewas replaced by a jeans-wearing Lucas James, 7 goals. By the end of a very longfourth chukka, the scores were tied at 7 – 7.

La Bamba pulled away in the fifth chukka with somegreat teamwork from the Pieres brothers, Facundo and Gonzalito. It looked to beall over going into the sixth but  South African, Nachi du Plessis playeda corker, scoring three goals in succession and winning the match. The finalscore Sumaya 11, La Bamba 10.

During this match, news came in that Jonny Good hadalso been injured in his match against Lovelocks in the Indian Empire Shield.He was sent for x-rays and an MRI scan, since this was not the first injury hehad sustained this week.

Meanwhile El Remanso had taken on and beatenRavensbourne 13 – 12 at Brooksfield.

The third match of the day saw Lechuza Caracus andLoro Piana fight it out at Coworth Park Polo Club. Alfio Marchini had to returnhome unexpectedly and was replaced by three goaler Matias Logicco. Loro Piana,with its heady combination of Pelon Sterling and Juan Martin Nero pulled awayin the first chukka, with William Beresford scoring the opener. This matchproved to be much faster, and more open that the Sumaya – La Bamba game.

The teams were very evenly matched. However, byhalf-time Lechuza Caracas had edged ahead 8 – 6. In the end though, somemagnificent play by Guillermo Casset and Miguel Novillo Astrada led toLechuza’s 13 – 10 victory.

The final match of the day between Les Lions I andEnigma, held at Les Lions, went to an extra chukka, since the scores were 8 – 8at the end of the sixth. Enigma managed to score the “golden goal” during theseventh chukka, when Malcolm Borwick called Matias MacDonough off the ball andran it through the goal, securing a 9 – 8 victory.

The action continues today between Broncos and Salkeldat Trippetts Farm at 12noon.