Dubai and Talandracas qualified to the semifinals of the British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup, following the two last quarter final games that took place on Sunday July 14. The most prestigious tournament in England sees eighteen teams up to 22 goals, partake.
Dubai,a runner-up of the two last editions of the contest, met Black Bears in the day’s opening match. And Dubai dominated the match and the score. Led by the remarkable Jeta Castagnola, who produced no less than eleven goals, Dubai claimed an impressive 15-6 win that earned them the third spot in semifinals.
Up next, Talandracas and La Dolfina Murus Sanctus played one of the best games of the season. The recent winners of the Queen’s Cup remained in the lead most of the gam. In the fifth chukka, they had a three goal advantage, 10-7. But in a hard fought six chukka, and with only seconds to go in regulation time, La Dolfina Murus Sanctus bounced back and managed to outscore their contenders by a narrow 11-10. However, Talandracas never gave up, and in the last play, Polito Pieres tied at 11-all, to send the contest to extra chukka. It was Polito himself who sealed the deal through a 60-yards penalty conversion, in order to secure Talandracas the last ticket in semifinals.
BRITISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE COWDRAY GOLD CUP – QUARTER FINALS #2 – SUNDAY JULY 14
DUBAI 15-9 BLACK BEARS
Dubai: Camilo Castagnola 10 (11 goals), Rashid Albwardy 2 (1), Antonio Heguy 5 (3), Beltrán Laulhé 5. Total: 22.
Black Bears: Guy Schwarzenbach 2 (1 goal), Hazel Jackson 2, Gonzalo Pieres 8 (1), Facundo Pieres 10 (4). Total: 22.
Score Dubai: 2-0, 4-1, 8-3, 13-4, 14-5, 15-6.
Umpires: Jason Dixon & Tim Brown.
Árbitro: Peter Wright.
TALANDRACAS 12-11 LA DOLFINA MURUS SANCTUS (extra chukka)
Talandracas: Rosendo Torreguitar 5 (1 goal), Pablo Pieres 10 (9), Alejandro Muzzio 7 (1), Hugues Carmignac 0 (1). Total: 22.
La Dolfina Murus Sanctus: Corinne Ricard 0, Alfredo Bigatti 7 (4 goals), Marcos Araya 6 (5), Adolfo Cambiaso 9 (2). Total: 22.
Score Talandracas: 1-1, 4-3, 6-4, 8-6, 10-7, 11-11, 12-11.
The semifinals of the British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup will take place on Wednesday July 17, with the following order of play:
12am: La Dolfina Great Oaks vs King Power
3pm: Dubai vs Talandracas
The final of the British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup is due on Sunday July 21.
British Open Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup – Teams & Fixture
Cover photo by Mark Beaumont.