Semi Final and Bronze Cup Places Decided
Following the final league games on Tuesday 23 February the places for the Semi Finals and the Bronze Cup Final have been decided.
The German team Picazo Polo Stud will play Regal Eclipse for the Bronze Cup Final on Saturday 27 February, prior to the Silver and Gold Cup Finals. Regal Eclipse have taken a battering in the tournament having been defeated by Emsworth Polo Club’s team Four Quarters Orange and by Charlie Wooldridge’s team Twelve Chops. New to the Berkshire polo scene, Picazo Polo Stud, faired slightly better with a win against Gaucho in their first game of the tournament, but lost against the formidable duo of Chris Hyde and Nico San Roman for Sifani in their second game.
In the first Semi Final on Thursday 25 February, Twelve Chops will take on Gaucho. Adolfo Casabal, who was awarded The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Award at the HPA New Year National Club Championships has been on fair form this winter, and he has teamed up with Harold Hodges, fresh from his wins in the Open and International tournaments at the SUPA Uni Nationals. However, the opposition must not forget Al-Rifai. He may be the lowest handicapped player, but he should not be underestimated. Twelve Chops, with Wooldridge fresh from his excursions in St Moritz, has teamed up with arena veteran Roddy Williams and RCBPC Chairman Jamie Morrison, who has had a strong arena season. This should be a good match of skills between the teams.
The second Semi Final will be between Sifani and Four Quarters Orange. Sifani have had a disappointing season so far, but have cunningly included former Four Quarters Orange player Nico San Roman. The Emsworth team have replaced him with Jack Richardson, following his return from Tianjin and his participation in the FIP Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup. The results from these two games will produce the teams that go into the Gold Cup Final and the Silver Cup Final (Subsidiary Final). To read the full team lists and scores to date click here.
Photograph: Chris Hyde in action during the 2015 Final. By Lucy Wilson
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