The final league games in Group Two took place today. Dubai Polo Team have already impressed in this group thanks to their unbeaten run across all four matches. However winning was vital for the remaining teams, all playing today. Both La Dolfina Great Oaks and King Power headed into their final games with two wins and one loss under their belts. Sujan Indian Tigers, Marques de Riscal and Park Place all have a win each, while Lord Rothermere’s Ferne Park was hunting its first victory. So there really was all to play for.
First up were La Dolfina Great Oaks and Sujan Indian Tigers. Jaisal Singh’s team led after the first chukka (3-1) only for La Dolfina Great Oaks to level the scores (4-4) in the second. From that chukka Dillon Bacon’s team never relinquished the lead. On the final bell La Dolfina Great Oaks were ahead 11-8. Sujan Indian Tigers never gave up though – a hallmark of their Queen’s Cup competition is to stay in the game until the very last whistle. This was the team that gave Dubai their biggest scare – only going down by one goal – and they also played a great game to win against Park Place.
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Next to play were King Power versus Marques de Riscal. The latter needed a win while King Power knew their closest rivals La Dolfina Great Oaks had added a third win to their tournament tally. This was a tough game for both sides and ended up going into extra time – the third overtime of the tournament. Nico Pieres found that much needed golden goal in the seventh chukka for King Power. Top Srivaddhanapraba’s King Power had dominated the first half of this match, leading 6-4 at the break. Marques de Riscal got themselves not only back in contention, but into the lead in the fourth (7-6). The lead swapped back again to King Power in the fifth but it was all tied, 11-11, at the end of the sixth chukka. However it was Nico Pieres who got free in the seventh to fire through the winner.
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Attention turned to the final match of the day, Park Place v Ferne Park. This was very much a game of two halves. Park Place, looking for their second win, dominated the first half, in control for all three chukkas. Everything changed in the second half with Joaquin Pittaluga and Pelon Stirling focused and determined to give Lord Rothermere his first win in this year’s tournament. This they did with Ferne Park firing through five goals in the fourth to give them a 9-7 lead. This team then just built on this resurgence to the win the game 13-9.
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