RMA Sandhurst Charity Polo Day

THE CSPA soundly thrashed the touring American team in the first match of the 2009 Chapple Cup Series.

Playing for the Sudan Cup at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst’s Polo Day, the home side scored a comfortable 8-4 victory over the Eastern Circuit United States Polo Association.

The CSPA were quickest out of the blocks in the first chukka and first blood was drawn by the late substitute and veteran Mark Cann who shot through the posts after picking up a ball knocked on by Ben Vestey.

Goal maker almost became goal scorer moments later when Vestey broke clear up the field, only to miss a sitter with the defence trailing in his wake. However, his time was to come.

Seconds before the end of the first chukka Cann too missed an open goal but Vestey was there on the follow up to slot the ball home. But the effort didn’t count as the umpire ruled that the ball hadn’t crossed the line before the second bell had sounded to signify the end of the first period of play.

Tim Brown (having got through the traffic) replaced Cann at the start of the second chukka. Early in the second chukka, the Americans levelled the scoreline – thanks to a husband and wife effort. Alan Nash picked up the loose ball in the middle of the pitch and got his pass away to Deborah French Nash who, from a wide position, angled the ball between the posts.

Honours even were short lived. Vestey, taking the ball from his own goal line, rode the length of the pitch to put the CSPA into the lead 2-1. And it took him just 30 seconds later to increase that lead with an almost impossible shot from under his pony to make it 3-1.

In the third chukka, ECUSPA closed the gap to just one goal again – this time through a beautifully struck penalty by Jonas Larguia. But thoughts of a comeback were quickly snuffed out as Vestey, once again, pounced on a mistake in the American defence to make it 4-2.

It proved the killer chukka as goals five, six and seven followed thanks to some great play between Tim Verdon and Nick Hunter – Verdon’s shot for goal seven just having the legs to cross the line while Hunter rode off Nash to prevent any chance of a goal line clearance.

In the fourth and final chukka Larguia pulled one back for ECUSPA and then had the chance to make it 7-4. The American team were awarded a 60 yard penalty and Larguia’s high and powerful drive looked certain to help the visitors close the gap. But goal scorer turned defender Vestey, on the goal line waving his stick in the air, somehow managed to get a touch on the ball which deflected it wide of the post.

By the end of the chukka and the match, Verdon had scored another to make it eight for the CSPA, while Luis Echeverri bagged a consolation fourth for ECUSPA.

The prizes for both teams were presented by Geoff Smith of ESS.

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