The Sumaya v Habtoor quarter final was dominated by penalties - 50 recorded in the two-hour match. Not a record for Cowdray Park, where this match was held (that apparently is 57) but a huge number all the same. Tony Ramirez of Images of Polo (www.imagesofpolo.com), who was watching the game, put it down to the fact that both teams were desperate to win.
Sumaya dominated the game, leading 3-0 in the first chukka and extending that lead to 6-4 at half time. They then expanded their lead by the end of the fifth so the scoreboard was reading 14 – 6, thanks mostly to goals from Ulloa and Du Plessis. Habtoor, one of the new teams in this year’s high-goal season, looked well beaten, but Nacho Gonzalez successfully converted five penalties in the last seven minutes to bring them right back into the game. Unfortunately time was against them and it is Sumaya who will play Dubai in Wednesday’s semi-final.
Sumaya: Ahmad Aboughazale (1); Hilario Ulloa (7); Milo Fernandez Araujo (8); Ignus Du Plessis (6). Habtoor: Rashid Al Habtoor (0); Alejandro Muzzio (8); Piki Alberdi (8); Nacho Gonzalez (6).
Apes Hill started this game in dominant form, leading 5-2 by the end of the first chukka. La Bamba de Areco seemed to struggle to find their form, while Apes Hill’s Juan Gris Zavaleta seemed to get better and better as the weather deteriorated. Facundo Pieres brought La Bamba back into the contention in the third finding the equalizer at 6-all, only for Zavaleta to score just before the half-time bell. Zavaleta scored again at the start of the fourth and then the teams had to take a short break while torrential rain and unseasonal hail pelted the Queen’s Ground at Guards Polo Club. Despite the weather the spectators remained in the stands as they realised that this was going to be a really great game.
Charlie Hanbury, who was playing well above his handicap, produced some great play once the game resumed to give Apes Hill a three-goal advantage. The Pieres boys decided this was the moment to show everyone why they are both 10 goals. Some great play from them resulted in three goals and the scores were level once again.
However Apes Hill was also able to boast some great sibling skills and excellent teamwork from Luke and Mark Tomlinson gave Apes Hill the edge once more, with goals from both brothers. After another delay due to more torrential rain, Luke returned to the field and scored while Facundo successfully converted a penalty. The sixth chukka started with the scoreboard reading 12-10 and everyone knew that this game could still go either way, especially when Hanbury’s shot went wide and the Pieres boys continued to play at the top of their game despite the cold and damp conditions. However it was Luke who found the flags in this chukka to ensure Apes Hill’s ticket to the next round and a game against Lechuza Caracas next Wednesday at Guards Polo Club.
Apes Hill: Charlie Hanbury (3); Mark Tomlinson (6); Juan Gris Zavaleta (6); Luke Tomlinson (7). La Bamba de Areco: Jean Francois Decaux (0); Gonzalito Pieres (10); Facundo Pieres (10); Tomas Garbarini (1).
