Zacara and Salkeld win matches to ride into semi-finals of Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup
After a couple of competitive shows, the teams of Zacara and Salkeld won their respective matches against Dubai and unconquered Piaget by 12-11 and 11-10 to confirm their places in the semi-final round of the British Open Championship for the Veuve Clicquot
Gold Cup being held at the Cowdray Park Polo Club in London.
In the first game, Zacara displayed an outstanding performance and cruised past defending champions Dubai by a single goal. It was a shocking defeat for Dubai, which was one of the favourite teams in the championship.
It is worth mentioning here that Dubai under the captainship of veteran polo pro, Adolfo Cambiaso, lifted the titles of British Open and Queen Cup. However, they failed to mark a significant victory this year and failed to cross the quarter-final stage of
the two major events.
In the quarter-final fixture of the ongoing Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup, the team of Dubai was leading the score by 11-6, after the three chukkas of play. However, the entire scenario was changed when the legendary Cambiaso received an injury and missed the
next two frames of play. Pablo MacDonough was replaced with Cambiaso for the short-time, but to no avail.
Both the defence and offence of the Dubai team performed disappointingly in the three sets of play. It conceded six goals, but could not add even a single goal in the remaining period. Cambiaso though made a comeback in the last chukka, but failed to save
his side from a defeat. With fast and steady game, the Zacara levelled the game. Ignatius Du Plessis notched the go-ahead goal and sealed the victory for Zacara.
In the other quarter-final played at the same venue, Salkeld knocked-down the unbeatable Piaget by a single goal, 11-10 and moved into the semi-final round of the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup. It is vital to mention here that the Piaget was the only undefeated
squad of the tournament. The strikers from the Piaget side showed super game and took a single goal lead 7-6 at the end of the first half of play. However, they failed to maintain their games’ level and remained goalless in the fourth set of play. It was not
anyone else, but Luke Tomlinson who first levelled the results and then acquired the lead for his foursome in the 4th round.
In the second last chukka, Salkeld obtained a couple of goals, while limiting Piaget only for a single offence. Ignacio Toccalino of Piaget though tied the knots at 10-10 in the final chukka, but Tomlinson scored the game-winning goal and won the game. Tomlinson
was the highest scorer of the match, who set the pace with nine notches. On the other hand, Toccalino scored eight goals for Piaget in the loss.
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