A lively Final and Sub-Final of the 8 goal PSI Trophy were enjoyed on another sunny September Sunday by a good sized crowd at Cowdray Park.

Local businessman Peter Barfoot’s Maiz Dulce side made it through to the Final where they took on Christian Staubach’s Bamboleo/Madams Farm team. 18 year old Millie Cooper took the number 1 position for Maiz Dulce, playing off -1, with John Martin (2 goals) at 2, Jack Berner (3 goals) at 3 and Pedro Harrison (4 goals) at Back. Christian Staubach was joined by Jack Taylor (1 goal) at 2, Nick Johnson (2 goals) at 3 and Glenn Sherriff (5 goals) at Back.

Bamboleo/Madams Farm came away with the ball from the opening throw-in but John Martin soon intervened and, with some ducking and diving, made the first mark on the scoreboard for Maiz Dulce. A 40 yard penalty enabled Pedro Harrison to advance Maiz Dulce’s score to 2-0, but Bamboleo went on the attach from the ensuing throw-in and finally achieved their first goal, the chukka ending on a whistle.

Nick Johnson started the second chukka with a 60 yard penalty which went long and high but wide. Maiz Dulce brought the ball in and in short order Harrison made another goal for the side in yellow. It was an entertaining chukka, with the two backs jostling and working hard. Nick Johnson gave great support to Bamboleo’s number 4, Sherriff, for which he was rewarded with a smart field goal. But, as Johnson waited for the next ball to come from Sherriff, Martin for Maiz Dulce stepped in and raced away with it, passing swiftly to Berner who made a terrific goal taking the side on to 4-2. Glenn Sheriff reduced Maiz Dulce’s lead to 4-3 just as the whistle blew for half time.

Within a minute of the third chukka opening, Berner scored again for Maiz Dulce. From the throw-in Jack Taylor won the ball for Bamboleo and surged away, racing towards the goal and scoring. Bamboleo’s come-back was well underway as it wasn’t long before Nick Johnson neatly backed the ball through the posts to equalize on 5-5.

Not long into the fourth chukka, the ball went over the boards and, with the new rules in operation, Harrison for Maiz Dulce took the free hit. But Johnson for Bamboleo was first on the ball and raced away with it, neatly passing it to Christian Staubach to earn the goal that took Bamboleo into the lead for the first time in the match. But the advantage was soon lost when the whistle blew and Maiz Dulce were awarded a 40 yard penalty which Harrison sent between the posts for 6-6. The teams battled on until the final whistle blew and a fifth chukka was needed to decide the match.

The final chukka started with a roll-in and Harrison was straight onto the ball and passed to Martin. Glenn Sherriff stole the ball, there was a scuffle and the ball went out. Pedro Harrison took the free hit and swiftly Berner raced through to pick it up and score for Maiz Dulce taking the team on to 7-6 and victory in the PSI Trophy.

Millie Cooper was delighted to receive the handsome silver cup from Mrs Jo James, who presented on behalf of the donor of the trophy, former Cowdray patron Peter Pattenden. Jo James also presented prizes of polo sticks to all players.

In the subsidiary final of the PSI Trophy Wilf Fine’s Sea Breeze team beat Garrie Renucci’s Vendetta 8-4.