Dubai Polo Team 10 – 5 Marques de Riscal The Duke’s Ground
Clinova 9 – 8 Monterosso Billingbear Park
The eighth consecutive day of play in the Queen’s Cup began with Dubai Polo Team continuing their dominant play against Marques de Riscal. Tournament scoring leader Camilo Castagnola scored all three of Dubai Polo Team’s goals in the opening chukka with the only response from Marques de Riscal coming on a Penalty 2 conversion from Guillermo Caset. Bringing his goal total to five before the end of the second chukka, Castagnola pushed Dubai Polo Team’s lead to four, but it was their team effort defensively that also catapulted them further ahead. Marques de Riscal were limited to just two goals throughout the entire first half, while Dubai Polo Team were a perfect 3 for 3 from the penalty line and 63% from the field for an 8-2 lead. Unable to convert any of their six shot attempts to begin the second half, Marques de Riscal saw the deficit grow against the unstoppable force of Castagnola and young Rufino Bensadon. Holding an 8-goal lead, Dubai Polo Team protected against any counter attacks from Marques de Riscal to claim the 10-5 victory and remain undefeated with a 3-0 record.
Playing just their second games of the tournament, Clinova and Monterosso met at Billingbear Park in an exciting match that featured a second half comeback. Sending a Penalty 4 through the posts, Lucas Criado Jnr opened the scoring for Monterosso who raced out to a 3-1 advantage after field goals from Alessandro Bazzoni and Ignacio Toccalino. Held without a field goal throughout the entire first half, Clinova’s only offense came on four penalty conversions from Jeronimo del Carril that kept them within reach of a Monterosso team that excelled over the opening three chukkas. Criado Jnr and David Stirling each added a goal and an assist in the second chukka and then completed the opening half with more efficient play, shooting 67% to hold a 7-4 lead. Opening the second half with a goal from the field, Stirling extended Monterosso’s lead to four as they were seemingly in control and looking to improve to 2-0 in the tournament. However, Clinova’s fortunes turned when del Carril scored from the field in the fifth chukka for their first field goal of the match. Seeing the ball go through the posts ignited Clinova as they held Monterosso scoreless over the final two chukkas and inched closer. Trailing throughout the entire match, del Carril converted a Penalty 2 with one minute and 30 seconds left, accounting for all eight of his team’s goals to tie the score at 8-all. In a stunning turn of events, Alfredo Bigatti picked up a pass at midfield with 30 seconds left and ran the ball straight through the goal to take their first lead of the game and not leave enough time for another throw-in to seal the thrilling 9-8 victory.
Wednesday’s Fixtures
12pm – BP Polo vs Cibao La Pampa at Coworth Park 1
3pm – Murus Sanctus vs Vikings at 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