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You remember the strong breeze the Neffy liked to sail in? Well, that is what we got. It felt like we were sailing right into a storm with no shelter in sight. 3:0 down after five minutes! Two goals by Souto and one by Torrey threw the HPC strategy over board (yes we actually did manage to hold a two minute strategy meeting just before the match!).


The crowd got the start they wanted and the noise and excitement around the pitch was fascinating. What a place to be... only the scoreboard started to look a bit annoying! We knew the start would be tricky, given a pitch and ponies we are not used to. But this USA team was on fire and especially Souto was ready to give us a run for our money this afternoon.


After the first chukka we reminded ourselves that this is a 6 chukka match and there is still all to play for. Strong nerves! During the second chukka we managed to level a further USA goal by Keating with Courage getting our first goal of the day. 4:1 after the second chukka, but still, the USA looked stronger! Tension was building in the England team corner.


The third chukka saw the start of our fight back. The penalties kept coming, but not necessarily the goals. But it only had to be a matter of time before we would convert a penalty and in fact the efforts paid of. A penalty goal from Mangalji and one from open play got us to a 4:3 half time score. The boat was back on course!


Great team play and a wonderful pass by Prentice lead to Hay having a clear run to goal witch gave us the goal to finally level the score to 4:4 soon after the beginning of the forth chukka. But USA immediately regained the lead with another goal from Souto which was levelled by a further


Mangalji goal. Torrey answered this with a further two goals to widen the gap again. 7:5 after the fourth. What a chukka! Mangalji led off the fifth chukka with a further penalty conversion before Prentice managed to level the score once again with a hard fought goal. Tension was in the air. Will the sixth chukka start on an equal score? Nseir didn’t like this idea and scored just before the closing bell. 8:7 after the fifth!


Great defensive play by the USA in the sixth chukka and a fourth well deserved goal from Souto who played an excellent game that afternoon resulted in a 9:7 win for the USA of a great game of polo, that was played in the true spirit of horsemanship and sportsmanship between two competitive sides. It was open polo of its best with each player on the pitch scoring!


But no game on the ground of the Newport International Polo Club is over until both teams have ridden the final lap around the pitch, high-fiving the spectators, who were especially fired up and enthusiastic given their team’s win and after the exciting course of play!


A great trophy presentation after the game and a wonderful lobster barbecue at the club house joined by both teams and friends followed. A campfire get together between players, grooms and friends rounded up a fantastic day of polo and a wonderful tour to Newport. What made it so special is the great hospitality provided by the Crisps and Keatings and the entire Newport International Polo Club.


The only duty left was to inform Nicholas about the result. But given his great experience of the game and knowledge of the Newport series he had comforting words for the team which had fought hard to keep the HPC flag flying high.


HPC • THE LONDON POLO CLUB


61


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