Queens Cup semi finals – 10/06/09

Sumaya to face Apes Hill in Harcourt Developments Queen’s Cup Final

By Antje Derks

Two very different semi finals took place at Guards Polo Club yesterday. The first, between Sumaya and Dubaiwas action packed all the way, especially since Adolfo Cambiaso managedto get his riding muscle woes sorted out in time for the showdown.

However,it was last year’s runners up – Sumaya – who dominated the firstchukka, and with another superb goal by Milo Fernandez Araujo at thestart of the second, they had a 5 – 2 lead over Dubai. Sumaya’sstrength was winning the throw-ins. Indeed four out of the five goalsthey scored came as a direct result of snatching the ball from theline-out.

Dubaicame back into the game in the second chukka, mainly due to Cambiaso.He really was on sparkling form, shutting up anyone who might havethought his crown was up for the taking after a less than magicalseason last year. Indeed, he scored two goals from impossibleunder-the-neck shots that no other mere mortal would have gotten astick to.  With the scores all tied up at five apiece it was a penalty in favour of Sumaya that pushed them back infront and the start of the third.

The teams stayed neck-and-neck at seven goals each at half-time.  Dubaidominated the fourth chukka, leading Sumaya by three goals at onepoint. A betting man might have said it was all over, but not so.Sumaya dug deep and by part way through the fifth chukka, they had agoal separating them from Dubai.A stunning goal by Hilario Ulloa got them the equaliser. Throughout thesixth chukka the lead see-sawed and it looked like the game might go toa sudden death.

Thetension got to both the teams and there were penalties a-plenty. Notleast a penalty that was moved up due to Cambiaso’s arguing with theumpire. It was this crucial moment that, in my opinion, lost the gamefor Dubai. Sumaya ended up with a two-goal lead over Dubai, but a great field goal from Magoo Laprida brought them to within a goal, but as always time ran out. Final scores: Sumaya 14; Dubai 13.

Thesecond semi between Apes Hill and Lechuza Caracas was a messy affair.Both teams were unbeaten in the league stages and as a result were veryevenly matched. Having seen Apes Hill play a stunning match in theirquarter final, I felt they took a while to find their rhythm yesterday.There were far fewer goals in the early chukkas and many moreinfringements that in the first semi, and at times it was a bit likewatching paint dry.

Bythe end of the third chukka though, things had started to rock and rollfor Apes Hill and they edged in front by two goals; 4 – 2. By the endof the fourth chukka, Apes Hill had advanced their lead to 6 – 3.Lechuza Caracas managed to claw one back at the start of the fifthchukka, but Guillermo Caset really shanked a chance to catch upfurther, by missing a 30 yard open goal penalty. Apes Hill showed theirsuperiority and effortless team play after Luke scored probably thetournament’s best goal. Mark followed suit and suddenly Apes Hill hadopened up a four-goal lead.

Apenalty in favour of Lechuza was missed by Caset, and another vitalopportunity to catch up had been thrown away. Despite scoring threegoals in the final chukka, Lechuza still trailed Apes Hill by twogoals, due to Luke smashing in another 30 yard penalty, showingGuillermo Caset just how it should be done. Final scores: Apes Hill 9;Lechuza Caracas 7.