A stormy Saturday 13th September saw Bandidos take on Gaudi in the Park House Cup Final on Ambersham 2.
Riding out at 1 for Bandidos was Mattia Fabris (-2), with Andy Forester (0) at 2, Harry Muddle (2) at 3, and Niall Donnelly (3) at Back. In the pink shirts for Gaudi, Fran Reichardt (-2) at 1, with Boyd Allen (1) at 2, Ed Hitchman (3) at 3, and 2-goaler Harry Revell at Back, with Gaudi starting with ½ a goal due to handicap differences.
The first chukka opened with a brilliant shot by Forester in the first few minutes to get Bandidos on the scoreboard; however, a cut shot by Revell in the closing seconds put Gaudi back ahead, 1½ -1. The second chukka saw a big push by Bandidos with an opening 30-yard penalty by Donnelly, responded to quickly by teammate Fabris for another, with Muddle completing the hat-trick with another 30-yard penalty just before the buzzer, leaving them leading 4½ -1 going into halftime.
After a halftime break, Gaudi fought back with great defence to prevent any advances from Bandidos and two breakaway goals by Revell to close the gap to 4½-3. The final chukka had everyone on the edge of their seats with an early under-pressure goal by Hitchman to put just ½ a goal in it, but Donnelly secured a goal in the final minutes, sealing victory for Bandidos 5½ -4.
The Park House Cup was presented to Andy Forester and Mattia Fabris by Casey Forester, with the X-Zony Best Playing Pony Rug being presented to Berlin, played and owned by Ed Hitchman and cared for by groom Claudio Iamandi.
