Final Scores: UAE Polo 10 vs 8 King Power | Venue: Cowdray Lawns Field 1
The British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup kicked off on Tuesday 21st June with King Power and UAE battling for the Carlos Gracida Memorial Trophy, played in memory of the Mexican 10- goaler, while Monterosso and Scone met in the second match of the opening day on the Lawns grounds.
A match of two halves, UAE raced out to a lead in the first half on Lawns 1 with a relentless attack, while King Power battled back over the final two chukkas. Conceding a 60-yard penalty conversion to King Power’s Nico Pieres in the opening minutes, UAE responded with a penalty conversion of their own, followed by the determined play of Bartolome Castagnola with two goals for an early 3-1 lead.
Producing a strong defensive effort, UAE limited King Power to just one field goal on four shots for the remainder of the first half, allowing the 2021 finalist UAE team to expand their lead. Young Lucas Monteverde Jr. made his impact on the match with two goals and an assist to contribute to UAE’s 6-1 run to end the half ahead by four.
Pushing into the second half with the same strategy, an organized UAE defence continued to contain King Power while Tommy Beresford’s two goals in the fourth chukka left UAE in front by five with two chukkas remaining. In urgent need of offense, King Power exited the fourth chukka break with a renewed energy that resulted in four unanswered goals as part of a dominant fifth chukka.
Two penalty conversions and a field goal for Pieres, along with the first goal from Top Srivaddhanaprabha instantly brought King Power within just one goal and creating a thrilling conclusion to the opening game of the tournament. Sending a Penalty 3 through the posts, Beresford provided some breathing room for UAE as they were minutes from victory.
Despite conceding a goal to Mackenzie Weisz, UAE secured the victory when Monteverde Jr. sent the ball to goal where it was carried across the line by H.H. Sheikha Maitha to claim the 10-8 victory and the Carlos Gracida Memorial trophy.
The Hon. Mrs Lila Pearson presented the trophy to Her Highness Sheikha Maitha and Top Srivaddhanaprabha’s bay mare, Los Cocos Picarona, was awarded the Best Playing Pony rug.
Gold Cup Gallery Day 1
Photographer: Mark Beaumont
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