Black Bears had to work really hard to win their second game of the tournament. Noor Khadra’s Green Gates, playing in their first match of the competition, kept Guy Schwarzenbach’s Bears at bay until the final chukka at Noel Farm. Some brilliant teamwork from Fran Elizalde and Isidro Strada ensured that Green Gates were leading 6-3 at half-time. The fifth chukka was the turning point when Black Bears fired through four goals to none in reply from Green Gates. So with all to play for the final chukka was electric. Strada started it with a penalty to put Green Gates ahead once more only for Facundo Pieres to beautifully weave through traffic to goal. Back level again both teams sent penalties wide. With less than a minute on the clock Gonzalo Pieres fired through a 60-yard penalty – the first time Black Bears were in the lead and then confirmed victory by firing through a penalty four with just seconds remaining.
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Next up was another close contest, this time between La Dolfina and Desert Palm Polo Club. Again it was hard to call who would come out on top in this battle. Desert Palm Polo Club found some air at half-time, thanks to a penalty three by Barto Castagnola. This was crucial as it gave them the advantage, 5-4, at the break. The second half was a replica of the first, with the teams matching each other goal for goal. So, at the final whistle, Desert Palm won the game by that all important single goal – 10-9.
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The final game of the day had the added attraction of some silverware for the winners – the Royal Windsor Horse Show Cup. Thai Polo/Get A Drip claimed the cup but not without some drama. The team’s number two, Ned Hine, was injured in the first chukka and had to retire from the match. Jose Araya stepped in to sub and despite this shake-up in personnel, Thai Polo/Get A Drip stayed tight and in control against Adebayo Karim’s Shoreline Polo Team. They were 3-1 up at the end of the first and never relinquished the lead. Shoreline did deliver a scare in the fifth though, fighting back hard and adding four goals onto the scoreboard. Louis Hine received the Royal Windsor Horse Show Cup from Nicola Cole, highlighting the close relationship between Guards Polo Club and the world-renowned Royal Windsor Horse Show, which takes place in Windsor Great Park every May.
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Photo credit – Pablo Ramirez