Monterosso 11 – 10 Thai Polo NP
Scone Polo 12 – 6 White Crane (rec 2 goals)
The first game today was repeat of the final of this year’s Prince of Wales Trophy final, although the outcome was different. This time Monterosso got the best of Thai Polo NP, beating them by just one goal but within the confines of six chukkas. Played against the impressive backdrop of Windsor Castle on the Castle Ground at Flemish Farm, this game could have gone either way. The new partnership of Juan Gris Zavaleta and Gonzalo Pieres is looking strong for Thai Polo NP, while the addition of the young American, Mackenzie Weisz, playing in his first Cartier Queen’s Cup tournament, in the Monterosso team is clearly a success – he scored three goals today. Ignacio Toccalino fired through most of Monterosso’s goals though, including the all-important winner in the sixth chukka.
The second game featured one of the most experienced players in the Cartier Queen’s Cup versus a new patron who only started to play high-goal in 2021. Scone Polo, featuring Adolfo Cambiaso, was in action against Jasmine Calvert-Ansari’s White Crane. The latter received two goals on handicap as they are the only 20-goal team in the tournament. Scone’s patron, David Paradice, was not able to play today and so his place was taken by the Green Gates patron Noor Khadra, also making his Cartier Queen’s Cup debut. So it was not a surprise when the Cambiasos – Adolfo is once again playing alongside his 15-year-old son Poroto – had comfortably brought the scores level by the end of the first (2-2). Isidro Strada, Adolfo and Poroto then added three more goals in the second to give Scone a narrow lead. White Crane worked hard in defence though, with Nico Pieres and James Harper working well together and this partnership ensured that the teams were back level at the end of the fourth (6-6). Scone then just slightly ramped up the pressure. Poroto Cambiaso may still be a teenager but he plays with a confidence and skill that is way beyond his years. Today that translated into five goals in the final two chukkas and not surprisingly Pololine named him their Man of the Match. Sadly Jasmine took a fall in the sixth and although she returned to the team tent she was unable to continue playing. Her place was taken by her husband Alexie Calvert-Ansari but this change in personnel did not alter White Crane’s fortunes and they remained six goals adrift of Scone at the final whistle.
Images copyright