Dubai and Scone claimed respective quarterfinal wins over UAE and Great Oaks Les Lions in the British Open Gold Cup on Saturday, July 9, at Cowdray Park Polo Club, in Midhurst, West Sussex. The tournament sees fourteen teams, up to 23 goals, compete.
The first quarter final between Dubai and UAE was particularly exciting as the Castagnola brothers – Camilo (Dubai) and Bartolomé Jr. (UAE) – went head to head. Luck favored Camilo this time, as Dubai took a 14-11 win, with “Jeta” scoring a whopping 10 goals. The match got off to an even start, and after consecutive ties in the first two chukkas, Dubai took off, led by a merciless Jeta. His remarkable performance allowed Rashid Albwardy’s lineup to widen their advantage, and by the start of the last, they were leading by three. A final goal in the last chukka was enough for Dubai to claim the win and qualify for the tournament semifinals.
Up next, Scone took on recent Queen’s Cup winners, Great Oaks Les Lions. Both teams saw changes to their lineup once again (Emily Johnson, who is filling in for Scone’s David Paradice, was subbed in by Luis Aznar in the first chukka, while Great Oaks Les Lions’ Dillon Bacon was replaced by Beltrán Lauhlé). The first half of the match belonged to Scone, and by the end of the third they had secured a commanding 4-1 lead. However, Great Oaks Les Lions made an impressive comeback in the fourth, outscoring Scone 3-1 to narrow the goal down to one goal. But Great Oaks Les Lions’ had their hopes broken down quickly, as Scone took control of the game, scoring five goals in the two last chukkas to secure a 10-7 win and a place in the semifinals.
BRITISH OPEN POLO CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE COWDRAY GOLD CUP – QUARTER FINALS #1
DUBAI 14-11 UAE
Dubai: Rashid Albwardy 1 (1 goal), Matt Perry 5 (1), Camilo Castagnola 9 (10), Jerónimo del Carril 7 (2). Total: 22.
UAE: HH Sheikha Maitha 0, Lukin Monteverde 6 (1 goal), Bartolomé Castagnola 9 (6), Tomás Beresford 7 (4). Total: 22.
Score Dubai: 2-2, 4-4, 9-6, 12-7, 13-10, 14-11.
Umpires: Jason Dixon & Howard Smith.
Third man: Tim Bown.
SCONE 10-7 GREAT OAKS LES LIONS
Scone: Emily Johnson 0* (Subbed in by Luis Aznar o, 1 goal, in the first chukka), Rosendo Torreguitar 4, Adolfo Cambiaso 10 (1), Adolfo Cambiaso Jr. 8 (8). Total: 22.
Great Oaks Les Lions: Beltrán Laulhé 2 **, James Beim 6 (2 goals), Cruz Heguy 6 (3), Juan Martín Nero 9 (2). Total: 23.
Score Scone: (0-1) 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, 5-4, 8-5, 10-7.
Umpires: Peter Wright & Tim Bown.
Third man: Howard Smith.
*Subbed in for David Paradice 0.
**Subbed in for Dillon Bacon 2.
The two remaining quarter final games of the British Open Gold Cup will be played on Sunday, July 10:
12pm: Marqués de Riscal vs. Park Place
3pm: Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Cup: Park Place Vaara vs. Talandracas
The final of the British Open Gold Cup is set to be played on Sunday, July 17.
British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup – Fixture & Teams
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