Final Scores: Marques De Riscal 11 vs 8 Thai Polo NP | Venue: Brooks Field
The second week of competition in the British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup began with Thai Polo NP against Marques de Riscal on Brooks Field. Following a narrow one-goal victory against UAE in their tournament opening match, Marques de Riscal was back in action against a championship Thai Polo NP with Guillermo Caset, setting the early tone for Marques de Riscal.
Converting from the 30-yard line, Caset opened the offence flow leading to three more Marques de Riscal goals, with exceptional play from Alejandro Aznar, resulting in two field goals and a 4-0 lead. Following a brief response from American Jared Zenni for Thai Polo NP’s first shot and goal of the match, Marques de Riscal continued to set the pace with two more successful drives from Caset and Santiago Cernadas.
Overcoming the slow start, Thai Polo NP began to respond as they found momentum with goals from Ned Hine and Charlie Hanbury, but the early four-goal deficit remained into halftime. Marques de Riscal outshot their opponents 12 to 7 while adding two penalty conversions to hold a comfortable 7-3 lead at the half.
Early in the second half, Marques de Riscal’s Cernadas increased the lead to five, yet Thai Polo NP showed some resilience as Zenni came forward again with back-to-back goals to keep his team in contention. Removing any momentum swinging in Thai Polo NP’s direction, Caset took control of play with three more Marques de Riscal goals, driving the attack forward and pressuring the Thai Polo NP defence into foul trouble that resulted in Caset’s fourth penalty conversion of the contest.
Thai Polo NP pushed for a late comeback with the assistance of Hine, who shot a perfect 3 for 3 at the line to cut their six-goal deficit in half, but time began to run out. Thai Polo NP could not overcome Marques de Riscal’s early advantage and six-goal performance from Caset, ending in an 11-8 defeat as Marques de Riscal improved to 2-0.
Gold Cup Gallery Day 7
Photographer: Mark Beaumont
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