Final Scores; Park Place 13 - 10 Talandracas | Venue: Cowdray Lawns 2
Between the games, spectators basked in the sunshine and tucked into picnics on the sidelines, sipped cocktails from the No.3 Gin Bar and glasses of English sparkling wine from the Nyteimber Routemaster bus looking down over the pitch. Guests also enjoyed drinks and delicious food in the EFG Lawns Enclosure, admired the impressive Boeing Business Jets aeroplane model displayed in the Brooks hospitality enclosure, and perused the array of shops in the Retail Village.
Everyone then returned to their respective viewing areas to watch the second match.
Coming off a convincing Quarter Finals victory against Marques de Riscal, Park Place’s influential offensive duo of Facundo Pieres and Francisco Elizalde set the tone for Park Place in the second Semi-Final despite conceding a goal on handicap. Assisting on two goals for Elizalde while adding a Safety conversion in the opening chukka, Pieres helped guide Park Place to the early 3-2 advantage.
Contributing Talandracas’ only offensive efforts in the opening frame, Alejandro Muzzio was back on the scoreboard in the second alongside a 40-yard penalty conversion for Pablo Pieres to outscore Park Place and tie the match at 4-all. With each team determined to take the halftime lead, a fast-paced third chukka featured few whistles as Talandracas’ Pieres contributed two goals as part of a 3-2 chukka that went in favour of Talandracas, resulting in a narrow 7-6 lead at the break.
Park Place’s offensive came to life in the second half due to the exceptional play of 10-goaler Facundo Pieres. Displaying a dominant style of play, Pieres sent both shot attempts through the goal, added a 40-yard penalty conversion and assisted on an Elizalde field goal, all in the fourth chukka to push Park Place into the lead 10-8. Held without a field goal for the entire second half, Talandracas needed to produce from the penalty line as Pablo Pieres added his third penalty goal, but the momentum was firmly in Park Place’s favour. Extending their lead to three, Park Place was steps from victory, and with an organised defensive effort that prevented a Talandracas run, young Louis Hine scored his first of the match to seal the 13-10 win.
Anthony Embiricos, who won the Gold Cup in 1987, 1988 and 1988 with his team Tramontana, presented the Tramontana Cup to Facundo Pieres. Facundo also received the Most Valuable Player prize from Bob Mehm of EFG Private Bank, who also gave the Best Playing Pony prize to Nikita, played by Francisco Elizalde.
The highly anticipated final of the British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup will occur at 3 pm on Sunday 17th July, with Dubai Polo Team facing Park Place on the hallowed Lawns 2 polo grounds.
Cowdray Gold Cup 2022 Semifinals Gallery
Photographer: Mark Beaumont
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