Fortune Autumn Nations Kerry Packer Trophy

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at

Guards Polo Club

Sunday 10 September 2006

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All images ©Duncan Murray/Photoscience.co.uk 2006

It was a fantastic afternoon, considering the recent weather, perfect for watching a bit of Polo in the wonderful setting of Smith's Lawn; which made the drive up from South Hampshire almost a joy!

The stage was set for a showdown in the Kerry Packer Trophy Final and Subsidiary - and a showdown it certainly was, providing quality sport entertainment in this medium goal polo tournament. The final was to be decided between Ocho Rios (who seem to have been having a most successful season) and Azzura with the Subsidiary between Arran Malt and Vampire Bats

The Teams were:-

Ocho Rios (White): 1, S Holley (0); 2, Peter Webb (5); 3 Chris Hyde (6) and Bk Eden Ormond (1) - Total 12

Azzura (Light Blue): 1, D Otamendi (2); 2, M Zimmerman (5); 3, B Sorzana (5) and Bk S Marsaglia (0) - Total 12

Umpires were Olly Hipwood and Oliver Ellis with H Ali Hyder as Referee

Peter Webb and Chris Hyde got Ocho Rios off to a cracking start with a goal apiece in the 4th and 5th minutes  with Azzura clawing a goal back in the 6th minute thanks to Bautista Sorzana and then a penalty to Azzura in the dying seconds of the first chukka to even the score at 2-2. In the next period the score remained the same until the 4th minute when Peter Webb put Ocho Rios in the lead for approximately 60 seconds until Bautista Sorzana again levelled the scores at 3-3 going into half-time. The third chukka saw Peter Webb once more take Ocho Rios into a leading position with a little backhand 'tickle' from a shot that nearly went wide - once again though Azzura came back to level the score at the end of the period.

Starting the final chukka at 4-4 the expectation was for the potential of a 'hum-dinger' of a final 7 minutes with the possibility of extra time...Ocho Rios pulled away again with a quick score at the scoreboard end followed immediately by a further goal at the far end both of which were Chris Hyde's with an assist from Peter Webb - 6-4 to Ocho Rios.

It all seemed over for Azzura; however Bautista Sorzana seemed to have other ideas as he pulled Azzura back into the match with goals after the fifth minute and in the last to level the match at 6-All...

As a mere photographer looking at the action I didn't see exactly what happened in the dying few seconds of the match. After the restart there was either a 'technical' or crossing the line of play on the part of Azzura which resulted in some debate between the umpires and a member of Azzura ... this resulted in a penalty being given in Ocho Rios' favour against an undefended goal - Chris Hyde clinched the match 7-6, Azzura taking second place.

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And anybody who doesn't think the ponies worked hard ...

All images ©Duncan Murray/Photoscience.co.uk 2006

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Arran Malt vs Vampire Bats

was the Subsidiary of the Kerry Packer Trophy and was fought over 4 chukkas - the match didn't flow as well as the final - more interruptions for fouls etc and it wasn't as high scoring - however that said it was just as hard fought with Arran Malt having a half-goal lead through handicap and leading by that half goal at the beginning of the final chukka despite consistently having had to play 'catch-up'...

The Teams:-

Arran Malt (Black): 1, A Fall (0); 2, H Ali Hyder (4); 3, W Hine (4) and Bk R Matthews (4) - Total 12

Vampire Bats (Red):1, J Pitta Luga (5); 2, M Howe (3); 3, J Glasson (4) and Bk R Sweet (1) - Total 13

Umpires Tim Bown and Howard Hipwood, referee Olly Hipwood

In the first two minutes of the 4th Chukka Vampire Bats again took the lead making it 5-4½ however with not much more than a minute to go Arran Malt brought the scoreboard to 5-5½ thanks to excellent follow-up from Roddy Matthews and clinched the match.

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