Sunday, 3rd August set the scene for the much-coveted Holden White Cup Final, with reigning champions Maiz Dulce taking on Cormix on Lawns 1.
Riding out at number 1 in the yellow shirts for Maiz Dulce was Millie Barfoot (0), joined by Rafi Bruckner (1) at 2, Alfie Hyde (3) at 3, and 4-goaler Will Harper at Back. For Cormix, Edward Batchelor (0) wore the number 1 shirt, with Henry Brett (2) at 2, Marcus Cork (3) at 3, and Nick Clague (3) playing at Back.
The HPA 8-Goal Final was an incredibly tight game, with Cormix holding the lead through the latter stages. However, a final push by local team Maiz Dulce forced the match into an extra chukka, where Hyde calmly converted a decisive 40-yard penalty to seal a 6-5 victory for Maiz Dulce.
The first chukka opened with a high cut shot to goal by Hyde, but Cormix responded with a composed under-pressure goal just before the buzzer, leaving the sides level at 1-1. The second chukka featured a flurry of penalties for both teams, with Hyde slotting two 30-yard conversions and Cork replying with a well-taken 60-yard penalty, bringing the score to 3-3 at half-time.
After the break, Cormix came out strong, with back-to-back goals by Brett pushing them ahead 4-3 going into the final chukka. With everything to play for, both sides gave it their all in the last. Brett extended Cormix’s lead with an early field goal, but Maiz Dulce’s teamwork began to shine. A superb finish by number 1, Barfoot, was followed by a last-minute team goal finished by Hyde to level the score at 5-5 and force an extra chukka. With the crowd on the edge of their seats, both teams battled fiercely, but a costly mistake by Cormix handed Hyde the opportunity to convert a 40-yard penalty-securing the win for Maiz Dulce, 6-5.
The Holden White Cup was presented to Milie Barfoot by Jane Bradstock Smith. The Gusbourne Most Valuable Player award was given to Henry Brett, who also received the Polo Times Best Playing Pony award for Valentina, a mare played by himself and owned by Peter Silling.
The Ruins Cup and the Ambersham Cup were played as the Holden White Sub-Finals. The Ruins Cup saw Tchogan take on JamJars Polo Team in a very close match; however, Tchogan ultimately got their noses ahead to claim a 6-5 victory. The Ruins Cup was presented to Isabel Fall, on behalf of Tchogan, by Stephen Biddlecombe, owner of Equine Management.
