Queen's Cup - Semifinals - Hurlingham Polo

Murus Sanctus 10 – 7 King Power at The Princes’ Ground
La Magdeleine 9 – 8 UAE Polo Team at The Queen’s Ground

Commencing play in the highly anticipated Queen’s Cup semifinals, Murus Sanctus and King Power kicked-off action with Polito Pieres striking early from the field to give Murus Sanctus an early 2-1 edge. Entering the semifinals undefeated with a 5-0 record, Pieres continued to lead his team in the second as a three-goal chukka displayed Murus Sanctus accuracy in open play, with Pieres and Marcos Araya combining for a 71.4 shooting percentage. Managing just a single conversion off the mallet of Jeronimo de Carril in the first, the 7-goaler was back on the attack for King Power in the third, hitting back-to-back goals, but a final response from Alejandro Muzzio gave Murus Sanctus the 6-3 lead at the half. Continuing to find success in the tandem of Pieres and Araya, Murus Sanctus were back on the scoreboard to open the second half, as de Carril hit his fourth to account for all of King Powers’ offensive contributions. Finally managing to diversify their scoring efforts in the fifth, substitute Manuel Elizalde kicked-started a three-goal run capped off by Nicolas Pieres to bring King Power within three. Held to just three goals in the second half on five shots, Murus Sanctus relied on their hot start to keep them in the lead, as a final goal from Araya capped off a 4-goal performance to earn the 10-7 victory.

Awarded the Kerry Packer Trophy, Murus Sanctus’ Marcos Araya was named Most Valuable Player, as Polito Pieres’ Monjitas Decente claimed Cartier’s Best Playing Pony award.

Vying for the last spot in the Queen’s Cup final, the contested matchup between UAE Polo Team and La Magdeleine began with UAE Polo Team’s Tomas Beresford finding success in the field to earn a narrow 2-1 advantage. Following a conversion from Pablo Mac Donough in the first, La Magdeleine found their first field goal of the match from Facundo Fernandez Llorente, but two more goals on a combined effort of Bartolome Castagnola and Beresford kept UAE Polo Team in the lead 4-2. Trading goals in the third, the two teams matched each other in shooting from the field at 40%, but UAE Polo Team’s ability to generate more pressure and place four more shots on goal made all the difference to earn them a 5-3 lead at the break. Initiating their second half push, a three-goal run from Santiago Laborde and Llorente vaulted La Magdeleine into the lead 6-5. Following a drive from Lucas Monteverde Jr. to tie the game for UAE Polo Team, a response from Mac Donough at the line gave La Magdeleine a slim 6-7 advantage entering the final chukka. Bearing down on both sides of the ball, UAE Polo Team’s Castagnola and Monteverde Jr. kept their team in contention, but a two-goal effort from 9-goaler Mac Donough in the sixth maintained La Magdeleine’s edge to complete the comeback and seize the thrilling 9-8 win.

Earning the Hubert Perrodo Trophy, La Magdeleine’s Facundo Fernandez Llorente was named Most Valuable Player, with Pablo Mac Donough’s Irenita Kioskera taking home Best Playing Pony honors.

Cartier Queen’s Cup Final
Sunday, June 18
3:30pm – Murus Sanctus vs La Magdeleine

All games are being livestreamed by Guards TV in association with Polocam TV. Go to https://guards.polocam.tv/package