UAE Polo Team 12 – 11 Dubai Polo Team Noel Farm
La Magdeleine 12 – 8 Vikings The Queen’s Ground
Quarterfinal play concluded Sunday in the Queen’s Cup, beginning with a brother vs brother match-up between Dubai Polo Team’s Camilo Castagnola and UAE Polo Team’s Bartolome Castagnola Jnr. Demonstrating an elite level of play in the opening minutes, Camilo Castagnola assisted on a goal from Beltran Laulhe and then proceeded to score three consecutive goals to give Dubai Polo Team the 4-0 lead. In a stunning turn of events, UAE Polo Team dominated the next three chukkas. Holding Dubai Polo Team to just one penalty conversion for the rest of the half, UAE Polo Team scored eight of the next nine goals on near perfect shooting from both the field and the penalty line. Singlehandedly scoring four goals in the third chukka, Bartolome Castagnola Jnr propelled UAE Polo Team to the 9-5 lead at halftime. Continuing his consecutive goal streak to five, Castagnola Jnr pushed his team’s lead further and they suddenly had Dubai Polo Team doubled up on the scoreboard, leading 12-6 at the beginning of the fifth chukka. Unwilling to be outdone by his brother, Camilo Castagnola ignited Dubai Polo Team for what could be a historic comeback. Adding a field goal and penalty goal, the lead was cut to four and then the relentless pressure resulted in two more penalty goals off the mallet of Castagnola, the last of which brought Dubai Polo Team within one as time ticked down inside the final minute. Withstanding the late charge, UAE Polo Team survived and captured the 12-11 victory to advance to the semifinals.
One spot remained in the semifinals with La Magdeleine facing Vikings on the famed Queen’s Ground and it was La Magdeleine that produced an exceptional performance. Displaying an organized defense, La Magdeleine held Vikings to just one goal through four chukkas, resulting in them building a significant lead. After an opening Penalty 2 conversion for Pablo Mac Donough, Facundo Fernandez Llorente added back-to-back goals from the field to the end first chukka ahead three one. The remainder of the first half was all La Magdeleine as they surged ahead, led by the duo of Mac Donough and Llorente. Combining for four goals and three assists over the second and third chukkas, with Laborde effectively manning the back of the field, they led La Magdeleine into halftime with a 7-1 lead. The fourth chukka ultimately sealed the outcome as they held Vikings scoreless for the third consecutive chukka while producing four goals on perfect shooting from the field and the penalty line. Moving forward in the game, Laborde contributed all three field goals as La Magdeleine held a 11-1 advantage with the outcome all but secured. Juan Martin Zubia ended the drought for Vikings with six goals over the final two chukkas, but La Magdeleine captured the 12-8 win and joins King Power, Murus Sanctus and UAE Polo Team in the semifinals.
Semifinal Fixtures
Wednesday, 14th June
12:00pm – King Power vs Murus Sanctus on The Princes’ Ground
4:00pm – La Magdeleine vs UAE Polo Team on The Queen’s Ground
All games are being livestreamed by Guards TV in association with Polocam TV. Go to https://guards.polocam.tv/package
Photo Credit: ©Pablo Ramirez
Video Credit: ©Polocam