Queens Cup – Day 12

Facundo watches Poroto

 Park Place 10 – 9 Next Generation on The Duke’s Ground

 

Park Place are the only team to remain unbeaten in this year’s Cartier Queen’s Cup, thanks to a narrow victory over Next Generation and eight goals off the stick of Facundo Pieres. This was a highly anticipated game featuring the impressive father and son Cambiaso duo versus the outstanding Pieres siblings. It did not disappoint. Played at the later time of 5pm  at Guards Polo Club to counteract the unusually high temperatures, there was little to call between either side for all six chukkas. Everyone knew that these teams had both player and pony ability to win this game. Park Place started with a goal on handicap only for Diego Cavanagh to cancel out that advantage with a  penalty for Next Generation in the first. This was one of five goals Cavanagh secured in this match. Park Place pulled away in the second thanks to some good team play. The young Englishman Will Harper was having a particularly strong game at two. Next Generation overcame Park Place’s two-goal lead in the third and went into the half-time break with a 5-4 advantage. Many might have thought that this would be the start of the Next Generation attack. Poroto Cambiaso has been outstanding in this competition. He may be only 14 but is no respecter of handicap and his bravery and skill on the field has reaped rewards for Jean Francois Decaux’s team. Park Place had clearly done their homework though and were ready when Poroto was looking to escape. So it was all level, 6-6, at the end of the fourth although the pressure was starting to show. Even Gonzalito Pieres sent a 30-yard penalty wide. Park Place edged into the lead at the end of the fifth (8-7) despite a fabulous goal from Decaux. However there was still everything to play for – not least the opportunity to head up League Two and earn a ticket direct to the semi-finals and both teams still had the opportunity to claim this game as their own. Facundo Pieres who is hunting down his sixth Queen’s Cup title, seemed more focussed and took Park Place’s score into double figures. Next Generation got one back but this was Park Place’s victory and they head straight to the Kerry Packer Trophy semi-final game on Wednesday 19 August.

 

Monterosso 10 – 9 Segavas

 

The first golden goal scenario in this year’s tournament secured victory for Monterosso earlier today. They beat Segavas after a tight and thrilling game on The Queen’s Ground. Guillermo Terrera fired through the winning goal  in the extra, seventh chukka to ensure Alessandro Bazzoni’s team have a place in next week’s quarter-finals. Their two wins, over Polo Stud Schockemohle and Segavas, see them finish third in League Two and secure a game this Saturday against the second-placed team in League One, which is still to be decided. Monterosso had a 3-1 lead at the end of the second only for Segavas to dominate the third chukka and bring the scores level (3-3) at the half-time break. Segavas pulled away in the fourth (6-5) only for Monterosso to level again in the fifth. This was clearly still anyone’s game and after such great polo from both sides it seemed a pity that someone would have to head home the loser. Another fast and furious chukka in the sixth was no more successful in deciding a winner and so with the scores reading 9-9 on the final bell, it time for extra time. Monterosso’s Terrera quickly found the flags in this seventh chukka ensuring their Cartier Queen’s Cup story continues.

 

Next Games

 

10.30am: Les Lions / Great Oaks v Park Place Vaara

 

5pm: MT Vikings v Scone Polo

 

All games are available to watch LIVE at www.guardspoloclub.com/guards-tv

Photos – Images of Polo