Picture by Mark Beaumont.
A lively high scoring match between Northwood and Brown Rudnick brought to a close the 2019 6-goal West Sussex Cup which had attracted an entry of eight teams.
Playing for ex England captain Andrew Hine’s Northwood side were Celio Garcera (0 goals) at number 1, Hine’s two sons Louis (0 goals) and Ned (2 goals) at positions 2 and 3, with 4-goaler Simon Prado at Back. The Brown Rudnick side comprised Louisa Watt (-1 goal) at number 1, Evan Power (0 goals) at 2, Ed Banner-Eve (3 goals) at 3 and Pedro Harrison (4 goals) at Back.
Louis Hine raced away to take the first goal for Northwood. Simon Prado scored from a 40 yard penalty to take the side ahead 2-1 before Evan Power made the first mark on the scoreboard for Brown Rudnick. With another goal from the younger Hine brother, the chukka ended with Northwood in the lead at 3-1. Northwood romped away in the second chukka, with Prado scoring twice from 30 yard penalties interspersed with an excellent field goal. Yet another goal from Louis Hine took Northwood ahead by 7-1 to close chukka 2.
Picture by Mark Beaumont.
A quick team talk from Andrew Hine during half time had obviously given Northwood even more energy as they returned to the pitch to make three more goals in chukka 3, all from Simon Pardo, with the answer of a single goal from Pedro Harrison for Brown Rudnick, the chukka ending with an eight goal lead for Northwood. Brown Rudnick perked up for the final chukka, Evan Power receiving a well-aimed pass from Pedro Harrison to pull a goal back. Ed Banner-Eve raced away from the throw-in and made a good field goal, moving the score on to 10-4. Off went Banner-Eve again, this time achieving a 30 yard ‘safety’ penalty shot to make it 10-5. Louis Hine won the ball from the next throw-in but was intercepted by Harrison who zoomed off in the opposite direction, passing to Banner-Eve who was ready to slip the ball between the posts for 10-6. With a final burst of enthusiasm Brown Rudnick tried another attack but Prado sent them packing and the match ended with victory for Northwood at 10-6, the final score possibly not reflecting the overwhelming lead that Northwood had enjoyed throughout the match. While it was perhaps an off-day for the Brown Rudnick side, it is clear that both Ned and Louis Hine, with great polo genes on their side, have much to offer on the polo field as they mature.
Picture by Mark Beaumont.
Millie Hine, the boys’ sister, herself an up-and-coming player, was invited to present the West Sussex Cup and prizes to both teams. Ned Hine’s pony Belle was the recipient of the Best Playing Pony award.
Picture by Mark Beaumont.
In the subsidiary Final of the West Sussex Cup, Ice Craft/Hickstead beat Kingsbridge 7-4.