Dubai take down King Power; RH Polo earn their first win, defeating HB Polo

camDubai – 17
Rashid Albwardy (2), Tom Brodie (2),
Diego Cavanagh (8), Adolfo Cambiaso (10)

King Power – 9
Tal Srivaddhanaprabha (0), Alejandro Muzzio (7),
Marcos Di Paola (7), Guillermo Willington (7)

Play moved back up the M3 for the second game of the day with Dubai meeting King Power on their home ground at Billingbear. After Temi Willington suffering an injury in King Power’s opening match of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup and being substituted (reports are he broke his collar bone and required surgery), seven goaler, Ezequiel Ferrario, joined teammates (Tal Srivaddhanaprabha, Alejandro Muzzio and Marcos Di Paola) on the pitch to face the might of Adolfo Cambiaso, Josh Cork, Martin Valent and Alejo Taranco).

With Dubai gaining a three goal lead at the end of the first chukka, by half time the Billingbear scoreboard was reading King Power – 4 vs. 8 – Dubai. Heading up the penultimate chukka 11 vs. 5 in favour of Dubai, things did not seem to be going the home team’s way, and it was to be a final scoreboard reading King Power – 9 vs. 17 – Dubai, meaning Dubai have won three out of three league games.

Things might not have gone King Power’s way on the field, but pitch-side I saw the most fantastic sight. It was a true highlight of the 2015 high goal season for me to see the excellent pony welfare laid on by the ‘behind-the-scenes’ King Power team. Both management and grooms worked exceptionally hard in sudden extreme summer temperatures to ensure ponies playing were well cared for. Tall fans and water spray (which I am reliably informed from a key member of the team were personally collected from London that morning) were placed near trees, with all ponies washed down with wet sponges and covered in wet towels (separate, but equally cool wet towels were also provide for the players necks). –Victoria Elsbury-Legg

RH Polo – 13
Ben Soleimani (0), Francisco Elizalde (7),
Nico Pieres (9), Santiago Von Wernich (5)

HB Polo – 10
Ludovic Pailloncy (1), Cristian Laprida (8),
Ignacio Toccalino (8), Sebastien Pailloncy (3)

Following a Tuesday of no high-goal from Cowdray, July 1st brought with it not only an increase in temperature, but also the first win for RH Polo (Ben Soleimani, Francisco Elizalde, Nico Pieres and Santiago Von Wernich) in their second game, having previously lost to UAE Polo (14-6) in the opening match of the 2015 Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup. Sadly, for HB Polo (Ludovic Pailloncy, Cristian Laprida, Ignacio Toccalino and Sebastien Pailloncy), this meant the team in blue and red faced their third loss of the tournament (having lost 7-19 Dubai and 3-12 UAE).

With RH Polo taking the lead at 2 vs. 0 goals initially by the end of chukka one the teams were drawn at 2 all. This was however, the only time in the match that HB Polo were level, as RH Polo kept up the goals – keeping their lead despite goals being put on either side of the scoreboard throughout chukkas two and three, at the half time bell it was RH Polo – 9 vs. 6 – HB Polo. Chukka four brought with it double figures for RH Polo, with HB polo joining them in chukka six. Despite ever rising goals on either side, at end of play the final scoreboard reading was RH Polo – 13 vs. 10 – HB Polo. –Victoria Elsbury-Legg

NEXT: ZACARA vs. VPS HEALTHCARE SIFANI, EL REMANSO vs. SALKELD
INFO.: cowdraypolo.co.uk

http://poloist.net/dubai-take-down-king-power-rh-polo-earn-their-first-win-defeating-hb-polo/