Final of the Duke of Sutherland 18 goal tournament at Cowdray Park 11th June 2017
A good crowd turned out to watch the fiercely fought Final between Saad Audeh’s Marchfield team and Andrey Borodin’s Park Place which brought the historic Duke of Sutherland Cup to a close on Sunday 11th June. Twelve teams had entered the 18 goal tournament, played as one of the series of six HPA tournaments open annually to all-comers at Cowdray Park.
For Marchfield, Gregorio Gelosi (4 goals) took the number 1 position, Manuel Plaza de Ayala (6 goals) played at 2, Guillermo Terrera (8 goals) at 3 and the Patron at Back. Andrey Borodin’s Park Place side featured himself at number 1, with an evenly matched line-up of three 6 goal players, Alfredo Bigatti at 2, Juan Britos at 3 and South African Chris Mackenzie at Back.
In a fast-moving first chukka, Marchfield were swift to open the scoring with a nifty goal from the 8 goaler, Terrera, soon to be answered with a goal from Park Place’s Alfredo Bigatti. A spot penalty awarded to Marchfield enabled Plaza de Ayala to increase the team’s score to 2-1, but strong defence by Mackenzie prevented any further goals from Marchfield before the chukka ended. Despite plenty of effort by Park Place’s players in chukka 2, good marking prevented the team from scoring. Meanwhile Terrera worked doggedly to find every advantage for his side, scoring from a safety 60 and then a massive lofted 60 yard penalty shot to take Marchfield on to 4-1 to close chukka 2.
Park Place won the throw-in which started the third chukka but when the whistle blew to award Borodin’s side a penalty, the 60 yard shot went wide. Terrera brought the ball in and during a tough ride off from Park Place was awarded a 30 yard penalty. He shot a fast ball forward but went wide. In came Mackenzie from the back line, Bigatti and Britos moved the ball towards Marchfield’s goal. During a messy situation which developed in front of the goal, a Penalty 1 was given enabling a goal for Park Place. Terrera tapped the ball forward, accelerated past Mackenzie and left the ball for Plaza de Ayala who doggedly carried on going until he was through the posts to put 5-2 on the scoreboard for Marchfield. Another missed 30 yard penalty was a surprise, but at chukka’s end Plaza de Ayala converted a 30 yard penalty for Marchfield whose score moved on to 6-2.
There was no let-up in the action in the second half, with Terrera dominating much of the play and Mackenzie working hard to rein him in. A foul by Britos for Park Place gave away a 30 yard penalty which Plaza de Ayala put straight between the posts for 7-2. Both Bigatti and Britos h
ad the goal posts in their sights but were unlucky with their shots. Terrera brought the ball in again and Marchfield grouped around him heading for Park Place’s goal, but Gelosi’s shot was saved by Bigatti. Off went the ball in the other direction with Biagatti sending the long pass to Britos who didn’t disappoint, finally rolling the ball between the posts to bring Park Place up to 3-7.
Early in the final chukka, the whistle blew for a penalty against Park Place and Plaza de Ayala scored again from an undefended 30 yards to increase Marchfield’s lead to 8-3. Britos won the ball from the throw-in and some hassle from Terrera saw Park Place awarded a safety 60. A massive high ball from Mackenzie gave Park Place another goal. Two more great attempts at goal by Terrera and a lovely under-the neck from Plaza de Ayala all just went wide, whilst Park Place were kept busy in defence until the end of the match which showed a convincing win for Marchfield on 8-4.
The Hon Lila Pearson, Vice President of Cowdray Park Polo Club, presented the Duke of Sutherland Cup to a delighted Saad Audeh and prizes to all the players. The Most Valuable Player award, sponsored by The Polo Magazine, was won by Guillermo Terrera and the Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award went to Notable owned by Guillermo Terrera.
In the subsidiary Final Rhys Cole’s Gales team beat Adriano Agosti’s Altamira/Madams Farm team 9½-8.
Park Place v Marchfield in the Duke of Sutherland Cup Final Polo Match On Lawns 1 at Cowdray Park Polo Club on Sunday 11 June 2017. www.polopictures.co.uk Lawns Midhurst Clive Bennett 20170611 ©2017 Clive Bennett Photography 11/06/2017 _CB_9986.CR2
