The First Audi International of the 2013 Season

The First Audi International of the 2013 Season 

Thousands of spectators descended on Beaufort Polo Club in Tetbury to watch England take on South Africa in the first Audi International of 2013.  The attacking style of the visitors proved too good for the England team and the South Africans stole the win with a final score of 6-4.

Having defeated South Africa last year, England was determined to achieve a second victory over its young and attacking opposition. The four players selected to line up in the Audi England shirts was a new combination which included up and coming players George Meyrick and Max Charlton along with Malcolm Borwick (captain) and Tom Morley.

The South African line-up included Jean Du Plessis and Tom de Bruin, both of whom played in the last encounter with England in 2012, as well as Gareth Evans and 23-year-old Brad Mallett who was making his national team debut.

Following a parade of the two teams, umpires – Jason Dixon and JJ Diaz Alberdi – threw the ball in to begin 2013’s Audi International Polo Series.

The first chukka featured non-stop, end-to-end polo with both teams desperate to open the scoring for their country.  A quick turn resulted in England Captain, Malcolm Borwick, taking a fall, prompting commentator Felix Wheeler to explain: “Polo is not a contact sport, it’s a collision sport,” but thankfully Malcolm was able to get straight back on his horse and the game could continue.

With the teams evenly matched, adding up to 23 goals each, it was not until mid-way through the second chukka that a goal was scored, with Jean Du Plessis opening the scoring and giving South Africa a one goal advantage. However, a mistake from the visitors resulted in a penalty for England which Borwick proceeded to send straight through the posts from 60 yards out making the scores level. But South Africa was the side who found its rhythm and a goal from Evans put the visitors in the lead once again. 

The third chukka was completely different.  It was dominated by England with Borwick successfully converting three out of three penalties on his horse, Plum, who was later awarded the Best Retrained Racehorse prize, consequently putting the home team in the lead for the first time in the match with four goals to two.

Riding back onto the field following a break at half time, it seemed the South Africans returned with a new, and very effective, game plan. Not only did the team produce two quick goals to level the scores, but they also appeared to be very much in control. England had a golden opportunity to tap the ball in to grab the lead again but instead South Africa swept the ball off the line to score the other end.

The South African’s attacking style continued right until the end of the fifth and final chukka with their top goal scorer of the day, Jean Du Plessis, adding a further goal to the board, cementing a 6-4 victory for his country.  So it was not surprising that Du Plessis was presented with the Most Valuable Player Award.

Kaulai Harwood-Scorer of Audi UK awarded The Golden Jubilee Cup and Audi Plate to the visitors.  Prizes from Casablanca, Silver Service, Goldin Group and Tally Ho Farm were also presented.

Following the Audi International, spectators were shown a different side and level of the sport with a young England side, taking on England Ladies. After four chukkas of fast-paced polo, the scoreboard read four goals all and so both teams had to return to the field for an extra chukka.  England 21 was the first to find the posts from a 40 yard penalty, resulting in the young team, and the potential future stars of England polo, lifting the trophy.