The Bryan Bethell Cup concluded on Saturday 13th June on a sunny Ambersham 1, with White Crane Black taking on DJ Cats for this 15-goal title.
Riding out at 1 for White Crane Black was Jasmine Calvert-Ansari (0), with Bayne Bossom (3) at 2, American 6-goaler Mackenzie Weisz at 3, and Felipe Dabas (6) at Back. David Turner (0) wore the number 1 shirt for DJ Cats, with Justo Del Carril (3) at 2, Juan Gris Zavaleta (7) at 3, and 5-goaler Jake Daniels at Back.
The first chukka saw a strong start from White Crane Black, with a hat-trick of goals by the young American Weisz. However, a mistake just before the buzzer allowed Del Carril to convert a 30-yard penalty for DJ Cats, leaving the score at 3-1.
The second chukka told a similar story, with successfully converted penalties by both sides in the opening minutes. White Crane continued to add to their tally with an impressive backhand shot into goal by Dabas and a well-taken goal by Weisz under pressure in the final seconds, leaving White Crane leading 6-2 going into the third.
Dabas and Weisz continued this momentum in the third chukka, adding another goal each to take White Crane into half-time with an 8-2 advantage.
Following a brief half-time reset, both teams came back with renewed determination. White Crane continued to prove unstoppable despite the best efforts of DJ Cats, with another field goal from Dabas and two more goals from Weisz, taking his personal tally to an impressive seven goals. A penalty against White Crane gave Del Carril another opportunity to successfully convert a 30-yard penalty, leaving the score at 11-3 going into the final chukka.
The final chukka saw an excellently executed goal by Calvert-Ansari to open the scoring, but this was not enough to stop DJ Cats from giving it their all in a final push. A couple of accurately converted 40-yard penalties and a breakaway goal by Turner narrowed the margin, but despite their best efforts, it was White Crane Black who inevitably claimed the victory, 12 goals to 6.
A delighted Jasmine Calvert-Ansari stepped forward to collect the Bryan Bethell Cup from Chris Bethell. The X-Zony Best Playing Pony Rug was presented to Incari Tempestad, played and owned by Mackenzie Weisz.
