Polo’s brightest young talent from around the world were on show at the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club today, Thursday 4th October, as Under-16 teams from Argentina and England contested the Youth Final of the Fortune Heights Super Nations Cup, with the South Americans taking the title in a thrilling 7-5.5 win.
Both teams had overcome difficult fixtures in the semi-finals to reach the international youth showpiece, providing an exciting atmosphere as the players prepared to face off. Argentina’s one goal handicap advantage meant England started the match 1.5 points the better, which is how the score line remained for the entire first chukka, as both teams cancelled each other out in a goalless opening. Juan Nagore and and Joaquin Sanchez Herreo made sure this would not continue to be the case, each scoring within two minutes of the second chukka and taking the Argentines into the lead. England duly responded with a brace from Ed Banner-Eve, retaining their lead at the end of the first half.
The score continued to swing in both teams’ favour, changing a total of three times in the third chukka, Herreo and Juan Chapion initially taking Argentina ahead, before Tom Brodie restored the Europeans lead, only for Lucio Fernandez Ocampo to make it 5-4.5 to the Argentines with seconds remaining in the penultimate chukka.
Argentina pressed on in the final seven minutes, top scorer Herreo adding two to his tally and despite a late surge from England, sparked by a goal from Brodie, a solid Argentine defence saw the match out and crowned the team in light-blue champions.
In the other of today’s youth games, a third-place playoff featuring South Africa and the USA ended in a 3-2 defeat for the Americans, giving the South Africans third place in the competition.
The senior final of the Fortune Heights Super Nations Cup will take place tomorrow, Friday 5th October, as Argentina and the USA fight it out to be crowned champions of the Fortune Heights Super Nations Cup. The game will be televised live from 14:00HKT on TVB in Hong Kong, and will also be shown, along with replays, at www.hurlinghampolo.com, www.tvb.com and www.us-polo.org on a delayed feed.
Rod Kohler
Revolution Sports + Entertainment
E: rod@revolutionsports.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)207 592 1207