Weekend Match Reports - Cowdray Park Polo Club

The UK Polo Season is beginning to wind down at the Cowdray Park Polo Club, but the people had plenty to enjoy over this weekend, with the final matches played in its successful Edburton Weekend Polo Series and the finals and Sub-finals of the West Sussex and Park House Cups. The 6 goal West Sussex Cup attracted eight entries with Ojo Caliente and Brown Rudnick, both new teams to Cowdray Park, and with three women players amongst the line-ups, making it to the Final. Playing at number 1 for Ojo Caliente was Ana Escobedo (-1 goals) at number 1, Georgina Brittain (0 goals) at 2, Jack Berner (3 goals) at 3 with 4 goal player Jonny Good at Back. Louisa Watt (-2 goals), an executive with Brown Rudnick, took the number 1 position for the team, with Charles Cooney (1 goal) at 2, Edward Banner-Eve (3 goals) at 3 and Henry Brett (4 goals) at Back.



Banner-Eve scored from the 30 yard penalty awarded. In the next play, once more Brown Rudnick were awarded a 30 yard penalty and this time Banner-Eve’s shot hit the goal post but failed to go through and the match ended with a 9-7 victory for Ojo Caliente. Mr Tuvi Keinan, Chairman of Brown Rudnick, was on hand to present the West Sussex Cup and prizes to all players.

A pacey and entertaining game saw Sea Breeze make the first mark on the scoreboard with a goal from Angus Rowan-Hamilton. The first penalty of the match was scored by Nick Pepper in the third chukka. Yet another goal came from Ollie Cork but the chukka ended at 5-4 in favour of Sea Breeze. Again a 30 yard penalty gave Pepper another goal in the fourth taking Sea Breeze ahead 6-4. Outstanding play by Ollie Cork gave him his fourth and fifth goals of the match and the scores were tied at 6-6, but solid play by Sea Breeze saw a goal apiece from Angus Rowan-Hamilton and Nick Pepper finally nail victory on 8-6.
Owners of the Park House Hotel at nearby Bepton, Seamus and Stella O’Brien, came
forward to present the historic Cup to Wilf Fine and generous prizes to all players. The subsidiary final saw a 7-2 victory for Jo Stuart’s Los Hamblinos against James Rogerson’s Connect 44.