England claimed a 11-9 win over Uruguay to win the historic Coronation Cup, the annual international contest, that was played for the first time in two years at Guards Polo Club, on Saturday, July 23, on the club’s main ground. While England lifted the massive trophy in the end, they had to struggle against a fierce “charrúa” foursome, who were certainly were up to the task.
The Coronation Cup was first played in 1911 when the Roehampton Club presented the trophy to celebrate the coronation of His Majesty King George V, the grandfather of the current monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. A team representing India were the first winners, and up next was played for the winners of the Hurlingham Open, Ranelagh Open, Roehampton Open and the Inter-Regimental Tournament. This format remained until 1939. Following the break caused by the Second World War, the Coronation Cup was back in 1951. From 1971 onwards, the Coronation Cup has been an annual international match played between England and a variety of different countries and teams.
The clash between England and Uruguay was a very leveled contest. The game was tied 1-all by the end of the first. England took a slight lead over the next two chukkas, securing a 5-4 advantage by half time. A hard fought fourth chukka would follow, when Uruguay tied the game 5-all thanks to a 40 yard penalty conversion by Juan Curubelo; England replied quickly thanks to Tomás Beresford, re-taking the lead, but Curubelo again scored another goal to tie the game once again (6-6). In the last minutes of the fourth chukka, a great play by Louis Hine ended in a goal to give the local lineup a 7-6 lead.
Halfway into the fifth chukka, Tomás Beresford scored to widen England’s lead to two goals, but it was short-lived – a penalty conversion by Ignacio Viana closed the gap to one goal once again. England bounced back and re-claimed the two goal advantage once again (9-7), following a goal by James Harper who gave England a 9-7 lead. But it was anyone’s game. The fierce Uruguayan boys were far from giving up; they scored a couple of times in the last chukka, but the efforts didn’t pay off. At the end of the day, Tomás Beresford who scored twice to secure the 11-9 win for England.
CORONATION CUP – SATURDAY, JULY 23 – GUARDS POLO CLUB
INGLATERRA 11-9 URUGUAY
England: Tomás Beresford 7, James Harper 7, James Beim 7, Louis Hine 4. Total: 25.
Uruguay: Jejo Taranco 7, Santiago Stirling 5, Ignacio Viana 4, Juan Enrique Curubelo 6. Total: 22.
Score England: 1-1, 3-2, 5-4, 7-6, 9-7, 11-9.
MVP: Tomás Beresford.
BPP: Maserati (Oriental Breed), ridden by Ignacio Viana.
Best racing horse in polo: Lobster, ridden by James Harper.
BPP UK: Casola (Casa x Livingston), owned by Nicolás Pieres, bred by Casa Livingston & ridden by James Harper.
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Coronation Cup: England vs. Uruguay