La Dolfina/Marques de Riscal 11 – 10 Gaston Polo Team

Park Place 10 – 9 Ojo Caliente

The final league matches of the 2025 edition of the Cartier Queen’s Cup took place today, with both games going into extra time. First up was La Dolfina/Marques de Riscal in action against Jean Paul Luksic’s Gaston Polo Team. Spectators and viewers of the livestream could have been forgiven for a déjà vu moment as La Dolfina/Marques de Riscal delivered an almost carbon copy of their previous game. They were trailing 9-7at the end of the fifth chukker but went on to win this match 11-10 in overtime! Once again Poroto Cambiaso switched up a gear in the final chukka, effortlessly taking the ball through traffic and firing through goals. Gonzalo Ferrari and Guillermo Caset worked tirelessly to keep Gaston Polo Team ahead – the distinctive blue helmet of Caset appearing everywhere at speed, but it proved impossible to stop La Dolfina/Marques de Riscal’s number four. The seventh chukka, the seventh overtime of the tournament, was fast and furious. Gaston won a penalty from almost on the boards but despite a huge hit from Cruz Heguy, it went wide. Cambiaso had the next opportunity and fired through a field goal, even having the time and confidence for a spot of tennis on the way to goal!

The final league match of the tournament, Park Place versus Ojo Caliente, made equally gripping viewing. It was fast, furious and fabulous to watch. These teams were so evenly matched that there was never more than a goal between them. It was 8-8 at the start of the sixth, but as both Hilario Ulloa and Facundo Sola converted a penalty each in this chukka, the game pushed into extra time. The eighth overtime of the competition. This was a frenetic, yet wonderful extra chukka, with teams racing up and down The Queen’s Ground. A couple of minutes in and it was still anyone’s game – it was more a question of which team would hold their nerve. Suddenly the action was all down at the Clubhouse end, the location of the Ojo Caliente goal. After a tight melee which seemed to involve every player on the field, Rufino Bensadon scored the winner for Park Place. This not only won the match but earned Park Place a place in the crucial, three-way penalty shootout to win a ticket to the quarter-finals.

Ulloa, Barto Castagnola (Desert Palm) and Sola lined up to take the penalties on The Queen’s Ground soon after the match finished. Park Place won this contest too, thanks to Ulloa’s sharp shooting. He was the only player to successfully convert all four shots. His skill ensures Park Place’s hopes remain alive as they are through to this weekend’s quarter-finals. They will be playing La Dolfina/Scone at 12noon on Saturday.

Images by Pablo Ramirez

Cartier Queen’s Cup Quarter-Finals

Saturday 7 June

12.00: La Dolfina/Scone v Park Place  at Les Lions

15.00:  Dubai v UAE Polo Team at Guards Polo Club

Sunday 8 June

12.00: La Dolfina/Marques de Riscal  v Sujan Indian Tigers at Noel Farm

15.00: King Power v Aureus at Guards Polo Club