Thailand Polo King’s Cup Tournament – Day 1
By Victoria Elsbury-Legg
‘Newsflash … on Wednesday 21st January 2015 Gonzalo Pieres will meet Pablo Mac Donough for the first time ever on the pitches of Thailand’
16:00 King Power 9 v 7.5 Tang Polo (VR Field)
17:30 BP Healthcare 6 v 9.5 Ahmibah Brunei (VR Field)
Following a press conference at the King Power Complex to introduce the six teams taking part in the Thailand Polo King’s Cup 2015 (King Power, Tang Polo Club, Brunei Polo Team, BP Healthcare, Global Port and Ahmibah Brunei) the first two teams to play – King Power and Tang polo took to the pitch. Played under the HPA rules, King Power gave Tang Polo a one and a half goal advantage in what was a very close match with King Power taking the lead in the third chukka, with a scoreboard reading King Power 6 v 5.5 Tang Polo at half time. A late goal in the fourth chukka meant King Power were then leading by 8 goals to 6.5 going into the fifth and final chukka. During the last chukka play was briefly stopped after Shilai Liu was hit by a ball off Gonzalo Pieres’ stick – play was then resumed with Tang Polo taking the lead 8.5 v 8 with one minute to go. A penalty on the 5b to King Power then followed which put King Power in the lead and subsequently the winners of the first match 9 v 8.5. It was a close first game that opened what looks set to be a great Thailand Polo King’s Cup Tournament 2015.
In the second game of the day Ahmibah Brunei controlled the game from the opening chukka, with a scoreboard reading Ahmibah Brunei 6.5 v 2 BP Healthcare at half time. Despite BP Healthcare scoring four more goals in the second half of the match it was a strong Ahmibah Brunei team who rode of the pitch the winners of game two with a score of Ahmibah Brunei 9.5 v 6 BP Healthcare.
On Wednesday 21st January matches will begin at 16:00. In the second match of the day, Pablo McDonough (10) will be substituting for Ignacio Novillo Astrada (9) meaning the Brunei Polo Team will now be an 18 goal team and ten goalers Gonzalo Pieres (King Power) and Pablo McDonough (Brunei Polo) will meet on the pitch for the first time in Thailand.
Matches on Wednesday 21st January:
16:00 BP Healthcare v Global Port (SSP Field)
17:30 King Power v Brunei Polo (VR Field)
See below for full team list and schedule of play.
King’s Cup Tournament Schedule of Play 2015
Day 1 – Tuesday 20th January
16:00 King Power 9 v 7.5 Tang Polo (VR Field)
17:30 BP Healthcare 6 v 9.5 Ahmibah Brunei (VR Field)
Day 2 – Wednesday 21st January
1600 BP Healthcare v Global Port (SSP Field)
17:30 King Power v Brunei Polo (VR Field)
Day 3 – Thursday 22nd January
16:00 Tang Polo v Brunei Polo (SPP Field)
17:30 Global Port v Ahmibah Brunei (VR Field)
Day 4 – Friday 23rd January
16:00 5th v 6th (SPP Field)
17:30 3rd v 4th (VR Field)
Day 5 – Saturday 24th January
17:30 Final (VR Field)
King’s Cup Tournament 2015 Teams*
*Please note: The King’s Cup is a 15-18 goal tournament, King Power’s team was entered in December when Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha’s handicap was 0, subsequently, on the 1st January 2015 his handicap was raised to 1, so King Power will play as a 19 goal team. All handicaps will be introduced with goal advantage for less handicapped teams.
Group 1
King Power (19 goals)
1. Apichet Srivaddhanaprabha (0)
2. Aiyawatt (Top) Srivaddhanaprabha (1)
3. Gonzalo Pieres (10)
4. Marcos Di Paola (8)
Tang Polo Club (17 goals)
1. Shilai Liu (1)
2. Miguel Diaz (5)
3. Temi Wellington (7)
4. Antonino Menard (4)
Brunei Polo Team (18 goals)
1. HRH Princess Azamah (0)
2. HH Prince Bahar (1)
3. Pablo McDonough (10)
4. Joaquim Pittaluga (7)
Group 2
BP Healthcare (18 goals)
1. James Beh (1)
2. Joevy Beh (4)
3. Garvy Beh (4)
4. Nachi Heguy (9)
Global Port (17 goals)
1. Michael Romero (0)
2. Benjamin Urquiza (5)
3. Manuel Crespo (7)
4. Anthony Garcia (5)
Ahmibah Brunei (15 goals)
1. HH Prince Qawi (-1)
2. HRH Prince Jefri Bolkiah (0)
3. Francesco Bensadon (8)
4. Ale Agote (8)
For tournament info via social media please follow The Thai Polo Association – hashtag for the event is #kingscup2015:
Twitter: @tpa_polo
Facebook Page: Thailand Polo Association
Instagram: Thailand Polo Association
Website: www.thailandpolo.or.th