Blenheim won the Duke of Cornwall Trophy at the first time of asking but only after a dramatic extra chukka. David Ashby, who was later named the Most Valuable Player, stole the ball from an Ainsley Saddlery shot off the back line and calmly fired through the winner.
The first half of this 16-goal final was all about Andrew Dechet’s Ainsley Saddlery squad. Although Blenheim secured a goal off the stick of their patron George Blandford in the opening chukka, Ainsley Saddlery were in control at half-time (5-1). This was thanks to goals from Simon Prado, Dechet and Manuel Plaza.
The second half was a very different affair. Diego Cavanagh seemed to be everywhere for Blenheim and with support from Blandford and Pedro Harrison, had upped Blenheim’s score to three goals in almost as many minutes. Some fabulous play from Prado kept Ainsley Saddlery comfortably ahead but this was now a more open, running game. A Cavanagh penalty at the end of the third meant the teams headed into the fourth chukka on a 6-4 scoreline.
Both teams delivered some fantastic, fast polo in the fourth chukka but failed to convert lovely runs up The Queen’s Ground into goals. Then, with just two minutes left to play, Cavanagh successfully converted a penalty two. Seconds later, Blenheim were awarded another penalty. Despite the pressure, Cavanagh calmy converted the penalty to level the scores for the first time. With the clock counting down Ainsley Saddlery uncharacteristically sent a penalty wide and it was now time for sudden death and an extra, fifth chukka.
There was plenty of up and down field play in this crucial chukka before Ashby calmly intercepted a hit in from the back line to score the winner. This was 16-goal polo at its best and the crowd appreciated a strong, competitive final. The Club’s Chairman, Lt Col Sean O’Dwyer presented the coveted cup to George Blandford while Ainsley Saddlery’s Manuel Plaza received the Images of Polo Best Playing Pony prize for Carina.
The sub final was equally competitive, also heading into extra time. Henry Lunn’s Bel Polo won this battle despite not scoring at all in the third and fourth chukkas. They beat Mohammed Bin Drai’s Bin Drai Polo Team 7-6 in a sudden death, fifth chukka, with Zac Beim scoring the golden goal.
Blenheim: George Blandford (0), Pedro Harrison (5), Diego Cavanagh (8), David Ashby (3). Ainsley Saddlery: Andrew Dechet (1), Tomas Willans (4), Simon Prado (6), Manuel Plaza (6).
Bel Polo: Henry Lunn (1), Zac Beim (4), James Beim (6), Tommy Severn (5). Bin Drai Polo Team: Mohammed Bin Drai (2), Beltran di Paola (3), Kian Hall (4), Teodoro Lacau (7).
Pictures by Images of Polo
