A stormy day on Lawns 2 set the scene for the annual Argentine Ambassador’s Cup, as the UAE Polo Team took on the Gaston Polo Team on Sunday July 6th.
For the UAE Polo Team, H.H Sheikha Maitha (0) rode out at 1, Lucas Monteverde Jnr at 2 (7), Santos Merlos (6) at 3, and 9-goaler Juan Martin Nero at Back. In Green for Gaston, Jean Paul Luksic (0) wore the number 1 shirt, with Gonzalo Ferrari (7) at 2, 8-goaler Guillermo Caset at 3, and Cruz Heguy (7) at Back.
With the Argentine Embassy and their guests looking on, the game commenced. The first chukka saw a dominant start by Gaston, with an opening goal straight from the lineout by Caset, followed by another. The hat-trick of goals was completed by Heguy with a cut shot from over 60 yards out, leaving Gaston ahead 3-0 going into the second. The second chukka told a similar story, with two further goals for Gaston, giving them a significant margin going into the third. The third saw a push by UAE, with back-to-back goals in the first minute by Monteverde and Merlos. However, Gaston continued to pull ahead despite the torrential rain, with a lineout goal by Heguy and a last-second goal by Ferrari, putting Gaston up 7-2 at halftime.
With the sun beginning to emerge, play resumed in the fourth with an opening penalty conversion for UAE, followed by two consecutive breakaway goals by H.H. Sheikha Maitha. But the consistent Gaston side continued their scoring with two more field goals by Caset and Heguy, leaving them ahead 9-5 going into the fifth. UAE fought back in the fifth chukka with three more goals by Monteverde and strong defence, limiting Gaston to just one field goal and leaving everything to play for in the final chukka. World-class play was showcased by both sides in the final chukka, but despite an early goal from Monteverde that narrowed the gap to one, Ferrari sealed the victory for Gaston in the final minute with a composed, under-pressure field goal, securing a final score of 11-9.
The Argentine Ambassadors cup was presented to Jean Paul Luksic by Mariana Plaza, the Ambassador of Argentina to the United Kingdon. Mariana also presented the Argentine Ambassadors Best Playing Pony Rug awarded to J5 arg Capacitada played and owned by Gonzalo Ferrari.
