King Power and La Dolfina are the two first semifinalists of the Queen’s Cup, following their respective wins in the quarter final games that took place on Saturday June 7. Both lineups will battle for a spot in the final of the competition on Wednesday June 12. King Power claimed a narrow win over Dubai in OT. Up next, in the familiar clash between the Cambiasos, La Dolfina Great Oaks, with Poroto Cambiaso, defeated La Dolfina Scone, with his sister, Mia and his father, Adolfo.
In the first contest, King Power, with Estanislao Darritchon subbing in for the injured Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, dominated the scoreboard until the fifth chukka, when they reached a 13-8 lead. But Dubai took off in the sixth chukka, outscoring King Power 3-0, courtesy of Camilo Castagnola who produced three consecutive goals, to tie at 13-all, sending the match into an extra chukka. Within a few seconds into that OT, Nico Pieres picked the ball and run to the goalposts to secure the first spot in the semifinals for the Thai foursome.
Up next, in the battle of the two Dolfinas and the Cambiasos, the win went to Poroto (La Dolfina Great Oaks), over his father Adolfo and his sister Mia (La Dolfina Scone). Although it was a close contest – they were tied at 5-all at half time and no goals were produced in the fifth chukka. Certainly, it could have been anyone’s game, but La Dolfina Great Oaks managed to seize the reins in the last chukka, to decide the match and claim the second place in semifinals. In addition, the club’s Chairman, Lt Col Sean O’Dwyer, presented the Platinum Jubilee Trophy to La Dolfina Great Oak’s Dillon Bacon.
The Queen’s Cup, Guards Polo Club’s premier tournament, sees nineteen teams up to 22 goals, in participation.
THE QUEEN’S CUP – QUARTER FINALS #1 – SATURDAY JUNE 7
KING POWER 14-13 DUBAI (extra chukka)
KING POWER*: Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha 1*, William Harper 4, Pablo Mac Donough 9 (9 goals), Nicolas Pieres 8. Total (4): 22.
*Subbed in by Estanislao Darritchon, 1.
*1 goal on Penalty 1.
DUBAI POLO TEAM*: Camilo Castagnola 10 (13 goals), Rashid Albwardy 2, Antonio Heguy 5, Beltrán Laulhé 5.T Total: 22.
Score King Power: 3-1, 4-3, 7-4, 11-7, 13-8, 13-13, 14-13.
Umpires: Howard Smith & Peter Wright.
Third man: Henry Fisher.
LA DOLFINA GREAT OAKS 11-9 LA DOLFINA SCONE
LA DOLFINA GREAT OAKS: Dillon Bacon 2, Kian Hall 3 (2 goals), Diego Cavanagh 8 (6), Poroto Cambiaso 9 (2). Total: 22.
LA DOLFINA SCONE: Mia Cambiaso 2, Charlie Hanbury 4 (1 gol), Alfredo Bigatti 7 (5), Adolfo Cambiaso 9 (3). Total: 22.
Score La Dolfina Great Oaks: 2-1, 3-5, 5-5, 9-8, 9-8, 11-9.
Umpires: Jason Dixon & Tim Bown.
Third man: Gastón Lucero.
The two last spots in semifinals will be determined on Sunday June 9, following the remaining quarter final matches:
12pm: Talandracas vs. Desert Palm (Noel Farm)
3pm, Gerard Leigh Cup Black Bears vs. Cibao La Pampa (The Duke’s Ground, Guards PC)
The final of the Queen’s Cup is due on Sunday June 16.
THE QUEEN’S CUP Teams & Fixture
Cover photo by Pablo Ramírez.