Cowdray Park Polo Club summer season in full swing
On Sunday 7 June, Jonathan Rothermere’s Ferne Park rode onto Lawns 2 to take on Corinne Ricard’s Murus Sanctus team in the Final of The Duke of Sutherland Cup. The 18 goal tournament, one of the six HPA tournaments played at the Club, had a total of 9 teams enter this season.
Playing for Ferne Park in place of Jonathan Rothermere was Josh Cork, with fellow players Dirk Gould, Joaquin Pittaluga and Rodrigo Rueda. The game didn’t flow as well as expected for a Final, and 10 of the goals scored in the match were a result of penalties being awarded. The first goal of the game was a 30 yrd penalty in favour of Ferne Park, who really made their mark on the outcome of the game in the third chukka scoring three field goals and a 60 yrd penalty from Pittaluga moving them into the lead 8-4 at half time.
Six more goals hit the scoreboard in the fourth chukka, five of them from penalties. Dirk Gould showed fine form accurately hitting two massive 60 yrd shots to widen the lead 11-7. Zaveleta opened the fifth chukka with a field goal and a 30 yrd penalty by Sola helped Murus Sanctus reduce Ferne Park’s lead to 11-9. Murus Sanctus fought hard, but Ferne Park took the trophy with a final score of 13-10.
Lady Beresford presented The Duke of Sutherland Cup to Fern Park and The Polo Times Best Playing Pony rug was awarded to Vincenta, a 13 year-old mare owned and ridden by Joaquin Pittaluga.
Ferne Park
1. Josh Cork 0
2. Dirk Gould 5
3. Joaquin Pittaluga 7
4. Rodrigo Rueda 6
18
Murus Sanctus
1. Corinne Ricard 0
2. Facundo Sola 8
3. Juan Savaleta 7
4. Juan Cruz Merlos 3
18
Photograph: Vincenta, owned and played by Joaquin Pittaluga The Polo Times Best Playing Pony. By Clive Bennett
http://www.polotimes.co.uk/?pg=35