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The team from HPC, representing England for the 24th time in the Newport International Polo Series, consisted of Steven O’Kane (-1), Sebastian Tarnowski (-2), Jimmy Wood (4) and team captain Garrie Renucci (-2) for a combined handicap of -1.
The US home team, with an impressive 8 wins-3 losses record against challengers so far this season, were determined to make it 3 wins in a row against the annual Ham contingent and turned up on match day with some last minute tactical changes to their lineup, fielding a team with a handicap much stronger with a combined handicap of 2 goals.
Charlie Bullis Michel Nseir
Minnie Keating Dan Keating - Captain 1
(0) (0) (1)
The 1st chukka found the Ham contingent sleeping and USA sailed into a 3-0 lead before two late goals from Jimmy Wood ended the chukka 3-2 with Sebastian Tarnowski lying on his back suffering dented pride and bleeding nose as the hooter brought the chukka to an end.
The 2nd chukka saw the USA extend their lead to 5-2 with a mixture of jet lag, the big crowd, borrowed horses and small field clearly affecting the Ham team.
In the 3rd chukka, the Ham contingent began firing under maestro Jimmy Wood 2 more goals to end the half with USA leading 5-4, giving hope to the England fans who by now were making themselves heard among the cauldron of USA fans. The 4th goal being a penalty which Jimmy Wood launched so hard and high that it cleared the field and smashed the window of a luxury SUV in the car park behind the goal. Not to be outdone, Steven O’Kane was to repeat this on the side line putting
the ball over the crowd and again smashing the window of a car in the car park.
A strong half time talk by Captain Garrie Renucci and change of tactics implemented by Jimmy Wood saw the 4th chukka gap close to 6-4 and the England comeback began in reality with a very strong chukka from Steven O’Kane with a nicely worked goal. Garrie Renucci providing a strong block on Dan Keating and some stern ride offs by O’Kane throughout the chukka, particularly one that left Michel in shock and winded, such was the ferocity of the ride of King O’Kane.
Enter the 5th chukka and Jimmy Wood all guns blazing, fired home 4 rapid goals to sink the hearts and dreams of a USA three-peat, with England taking the lead 10-8 by end of the chukka and our boys leaving the field with the broadest of grins and Sebastian Tarnowski blowing kisses to his adoring fans.
The final chukka saw some impressive attacking by O’Kane and 2 more goals from Jimmy Wood, intense and determined work on Dan and Minnie Keating by Garrie Renucci and Steven O’Kane on Charlie Bullis, leaving nowhere for USA to go when they went forward trying their hardest to close the gap and get back into the match before the final hooter. Charlie Bullis finally got past O’Kane only to find Renucci there to ride him over the goal line and the final USA chance gone.
Sebastian Tarnowski much to the pleasure of his fans managed to tap in a goal ½ m from the line after a strong run by Renucci late on to conclude a 13-10 victory and England securing the Silver Liberty Bowl in front of an impressive and sell out 7,000 crowd.
Overall, there was much impressive play on display in the match, particularly from Charlie Bullis and Minnie (The Mouse) Keating for USA and Jimmy Wood and
HPC • THE LONDON POLO CLUB
65
Photos: Rodrigo Fernandez,
www.andesvisual.com,
KevinmBernard.com
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