Sunday the 31st May set the stage for the prestigious Dollar Cup Final, presented by Lumina, a high-strength liquid collagen brand. The closely contested 12-goal match saw Ellerston face Bad Boys Polo Team on Lawns 2, for the first Victor Ludorum Final in the Cowdray Park Polo Club calendar.
Ellerston lined up with Jackson Packer (-1) at 1, Benji Mancini (2) at 2, Tomas Garbarini Islas (4) at 3, and 6-goaler Matias Mac Donough Jnr at Back. Bad Boys Polo Team featured Bayne Bossom (3) at 1, stepping in for Marcus Cork, alongside Mathieu Van Delden Jnr (0) at 2, Ollie Cork at 3, and James Beim (5) at Back. Due to the handicap difference, Ellerston began the match with a half-goal advantage.
The opening chukka was dominated by Ellerston, with Mac Donough Jnr striking early with the first goal of the match before adding another, giving Ellerston a commanding 2½-0 lead at the end of the first.
Garbarini extended Ellerston’s advantage early in the second chukka with another shot to goal. However, Bad Boys Polo Team soon found their rhythm, with a breakaway goal by Bossom and two consecutive goals by British high-goal player Beim to leave them within a ½ goal reach to Ellerston at half-time.
The second half delivered a showcase of evenly matched polo. Mac Donough Jnr opened the third chukka with an impressive neck shot from the boards in the opening minute. Bad Boys quickly responded with an under-pressure goal by Bossom, and a last second 40-yard penalty conversion by Beim to push them ahead for the first time in the game, 5-4 ½.
The final chukka didn’t disappoint, with both teams converting 40-yard penalties before Garbarini produced a breakaway field goal to restore Ellerston’s advantage. Bad Boys answered quickly with a team goal finished by Beim. Despite Ellerston’s determined efforts, it was Ollie Cork who delivered the decisive goal, scoring just before the final buzzer to secure an 8-6½ victory for Bad Boys Polo Team.
An overjoyed Mathieu Van Delden accepted the Dollar Cup on behalf of Bad Boys Polo Team from Andrew Ward of Lumina Collagen. The Gusbourne MVP Award was presented to Ollie Cork in recognition of his outstanding performance, while the Lumina Best Playing Pony Rug was awarded to Sensata, ridden by Matias Mac Donough Jnr in the second chukka.
