La Dolfina Great Oaks and the undefeated Talandracas qualified to the championship match of the Queen’s Cup, Guards Polo Club’s premier competition, following their wins in the semifinals that took place on Wednesday June 12 in the club set in Windsor Great Park, England. La Dolfina Great Oaks beat King Power, while Talandracas defeated Black Bears.
Both games had a very similar thread. In the first contest, La Dolfina Great Oaks, led by Poroto Cambiaso and supported by a strong Diego Cavanagh, dominated from the first chukka onwards, while King Power struggled to hold back. La Dolfina Great Oaks’ impressive dominance, left the deal almost said and done in the fifth chukka; and although King Power outscored their contenders 3-1 in the last chukka, luck was on Dillon Bacon and Co.’s side, and earned the first spot in the final.
Same happened in the second semifinal; with Polito Pieres as their standout man and the ensuring support of a brilliant Alejandro Muzzio, Talandracas overwhelmed Guy Schwarzenbach’s foursome – a lineup that includes Polito’s cousins, brothers Gonzalito and Facundo Pieres. Black Bears were unable to find their right form, and as a consequence, one could say it was Talandracas’ day. By the start of the last chukka, the French team had a 14-10 lead; they produced two more goals to secure the second ticket in the final.
The Queen’s Cup sees nineteen teams up to 22 goals, in participation.
THE QUEEN’S CUP – SEMIFINALS – WEDNESDAY JUNE 12
LA DOLFINA GREAT OAKS 13-9 KING POWER (Kerry Packer Trophy)
LA DOLFINA GREAT OAKS: Dillon Bacon 2, Kian Hall 3, Diego Cavanagh 8 (6 goals), Poroto Cambiaso 9 (7). Total: 22.
KING POWER: Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha 1, William Harper 4, Pablo Mac Donough 9 (7 goals), Nicolas Pieres 8 (2). Total: 22.
Score La Dolfina Great Oaks: 3-1, 4-2, 7-3, 10-5, 12-6, 13-9.
Umpires: Peter Wright & Howard Smith.
Third man: Ben Turner.
TALANDRACAS 16-11 BLACK BEARS (Hubert Perrodo Trophy)
TALANDRACAS*: Hugues Carmignac 0, Rosendo Torreguitar 5 (1 goal), Pablo Pieres 10 (10), Alejandro Muzzio 7 (4). Total 22.
*1 goal on Penalty 1.
BLACK BEARS: Guy Schwarzenbach 2 (2 goals), Hazel Jackson 2, Gonzalo Pieres 8 (6), Facundo Pieres 10 (3). Total: 22.
Score Talandracas: 3-2, 7-3, 8-5, 11-7, 14-10, 16-11.
Umpires: Henry Fisher & Jason Dixon.
Third man: Tim Bown.
La Dolfina Great Oaks and Talandracas will clash in the final of the Queen’s Cup on Sunday June 16, at 2pm. Previously, La Dolfina Scone and Cibao La Pampa will go for the Subsidiary Cartier Trophy, at 11am. mente, La Dolfina Scone y Cibao La Pampa irán por la Subsidiaria Cartier Trophy, a las 11am.
THE QUEEN’S CUP Teams & Fixture
Cover photo by Pablo Ramírez.