RMA Sandhurst Polo Day

Old friends from the Eastern Circuit United States Polo Association lined up against the CSPA at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst for the first match of the Chapple Cup Series sponsored by Savoy Investment Management.

However, the visitors were greatly hampered by the fact that two of their team arrived late, missing the first half of the match.

Into the breach stepped the CSPA's very own Mark Cann, resplendent in pink polo helmet and matching stick (not forgetting a tight pair of fawn-coloured trousers), to balance the teams along with Marwan Mohey-el-dien's son JR.

Despite some good play by the makeshift side on a wet and slippy pitch, which proved the undoing of two CSPA riders with separate falls, it was the home team who took full advantage.

There were good runs by Tim Brown and young Doug White playing in his very first CSPA fixture. Honorary American Cann played particularly well but was unable to prevent a well-organised CSPA side scoring four quick goals in the first half.

The arrival of Carlos Gracida and Ashley Van Metre - having been misdirected on the M3 - in time for the third chukka heralded a better passage of play for ECUSPA.. But by this point, the CSPA were in the groove and in no mood to be pegged back.

This was evident with White producing a fine run from one end of the field to the other to score a goal that put the result of the match beyond any doubt. Add to that some solid performances by Justin Stanhope-White and Hiro Suzuki and the final score of 9-5 was a true reflection of the home-side's superiorty.

In the second match of the day - the Inter-Regimental semi-final between the Household Cavalry and the Kings Royal Hussars - it was the HCR who booked their place in the final.