Umpires all games : Henry Brown, Mark Holmes
1st Semi Final – Laurent Perrier vs Chester Polo
Sam Chavez -2
Katie Jenkinson 0
Hector Rogberg 1
Christian Chavez 4
Guido Basile
Milo Manton 0
Emma Sanderson 1
Grant Collet 3
On a perfect pitch, under overcast skies the series kicked off with a 12 goal classic. The crowd were treated to a game that went from end to end at a rapid pace. The first half was tight, as two teams tried to play a defensive game and organise themselves. It was obvious that Christian Chavez was happy to sacrifice his own attacking presence on the field, in order to try and shut down the prolific striking of his opposition No 4, Grant Collet. If there is a better, more consistent striker of a ball than Collett, I would be most surprised. At half time Laurent Perrier were leading, thanks to a goal from Sam Chavez and two from Christian. Both Sanderson and Collet had also scored for Chester, making it 3-2.
After half time Chavez made a tactical change using Rogberg more as a marker against Collet and the skipper gambled by getting further forward himself. It paid off handsomely as he created opportunities for both himself with two more goals, Rogberg who got onto the score sheet and Katie Jenkinson with a great goal scored under her pony’s neck. Sam Chavez added another to bring the Laurent Perrier total to 8; with Collet and Sanderson adding one a piece, Chester finished with 4 goals. It was an entertaining game where teamwork and organisation triumphed against some individual brilliance from both Sanderson and Collet. Laurent Perrier were through to the final.
Final Score Laurent Perrier 8 – Chester Polo 4.
2nd Semi Final – Boodles vs Deepbridge Capital
Stefan Groch 0
Richard Clark 1
Lenny Cunningham 1
James Fielding 2
Danielle Blackwood -1
Jemima Walker 0
Dane Csaszar 2
Ben Malasomma 3
From the outset James Fielding’s tactics were obvious, try to mark both Csaszar and Malasomma out of the game using himself and Cunningham in the hope that when opportunities presented themselves, Groch and Clark would be able to out-muscle and out speed Blackwood and Walker. For the first Chukka it was working well as they went into break down by just a goal and they had been presented with two opportunities to score, once from a Penalty 3 and the other in open play with a run on goal. Failing to convert either opportunity would prove costly.
It was in the second chukka that despite the best intentions of Chester, Csaszar, being fed by Malasomma, cut free. Boodles simply didn’t have the horsepower to stay with the Deepbridge number 3. He was electric and spent as much time in the saddle with his head below the neck of his horse, making sweet contacts and showing amazing control, as he did above it. With 3 goals scored in the chukka and taking a lead of 4-1 into half time the writing was on the wall. And so, it proved, with an exhibition of speed, precision and amazing skill from Csaszar, as time after time in the next two chukkas he powered away from his opponents to score. Boodles simply had no answers and Dane Csaszar ended up with a personal tally of 7 goals with Malasomma adding the 8th. Boodles did score two goals thanks to Stefan Groch and James Fielding but it was scant consolation. It proved that there really is no answer to fast horses, if the people riding them have decent control and in this regard they all appeared to be playing in the Deepbridge team. A potent reminder for the final.
Final Score: Deepbridge 8 – Boodles 2
The Deepbridge Polo Series Final – Laurent Perrier vs Deepbridge
Laurent Perrier start with ½ a goal
Sam Chavez -2
Katie Jenkinson 0
Hector Rogberg 1
Christian Chavez 4
Maxine Potter -1
Jemima Walker 0
Dane Csaszar 2
Ben Malasomma 3
It was a perfect day for Polo and a pitch that had played extremely well, the two finalists lined up for what on paper, looked like two very evenly matched teams. An enthusiastic crowd of just short of 1500 gathered to see the teams, who had come through their respective Semi Finals in fine style and they both boasted power right across their respective line-ups.
The opening Chukka was one of caution. Christian Chavez and Hector Rogberg playing defensively against their opposite numbers. Breaks were hard to come by but when they did, they fell the way of Deepbridge, who were able to score 2 goals quickly, right before the end of the first period of play. The second Chukka was where the game got blown apart with Deepbridge adding four unanswered goals. Walker, Csaszar and Malasomma all getting on the score sheet. Laurent Perrier had their chances but they were trying to score from a long way out and often pushed the ball wide or were hurried in making their shots. Captain Chavez, unusually for him, missing opportunities from set piece penalties. He just wasn’t striking the ball well at all.
Chavez tightened his team up in the second half and they managed to keep track of Deepbridge, scoring 2 goals to the Deepbridge 1 but the damage was done before half time and they simply couldn’t pull back the deficit.
In the end the best team won but the score could have been a lot closer had the Laurent Perrier team converted their chances. A final score of 7-2.5 flattered the victors in a game that was full of incident and superbly umpired by Holmes and Brown.
Deepbridge were presented with their £5000 cheque after the game by Managing Partner Ian Warwick. Dane Csaszar received his prize from Betty’s Hampers for being the Most Valuable Player over the two games. His time as a two goal player will be short lived if you ask any of the attendees from this fabulous two days of Polo.
Final Score : Deepbridge 7 – Laurent Perrier 2.5
The Racecourse, Chester, CH1 2LY
Company Reg No – 37600 VAT – GB159169237
Accessibility | Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy
