Black Bears qualify for quarterfinals with win

By Alex Webbe

Black Bears Polo team

The Black Bears (Guy Schwarzenbach, Nachi du Plessis, John Paul Clarkin and Patrick

O’Dwyer) took an early 2-1 lead over Salkeld (Nick Clarke, Ma Routledge, James Beim

and Miguel Novillo Astrada) in their last preliminary round of play in the 2013 Cartier

Queens Cup at the Guards Polo Club Wednesday afternoon and held on to register a

10-9 win and earn a quarterfinal spot in the tournament.

Two first chukker goals from Black Bears were answered by a single goal from Salkeld

on a brilliant run by Nick Clarke, but at the end of the period the Black Bears led, 2-1.

Two more goals from the Black Bears stretched their lead to 4-2.  Salkeld were held to

a single goal for the second consecutive chukker, and trailed by two goals going into the

third period of play.

Salkeld pressed their attack in the third and scored twice.  The Black Bears were held

scoreless for the first time all day.  The two teams were all even at 4-4 at the end of the

first half of play.

Schwarzenbach and company reorganized for the second half and outscored Salkeld

5-2 over the fourth and fifth chukkers.  With one chukker left in regulation play, Black

Bears were ahead by three goals, 9-6.

James Beim and Miguel Novillo Astrada led a last chukker rally, putting three goals on

the scoreboard, but the Black Bears managed a single goal in the period to score the

win, 10-9, and qualify for the quarterfinals.

UAE 10, LA BAMBA DE ARECO 6

UAE (HH Sheikha Maitha Al Maktoum, Jack Richardson, Lucas Monteverde and Pablo

MacDonough) scored the first goal of the game and rode out to an early 2-1 lead over

La Bamba de Areco (Jean Francois de Decaux, Polito Pieres, Gonzalito Pieres and

Ollie Cudmore) in first chukker action.

Two more second chukker goals from UAE had them in front by two goals in the

second, 4-2.  La Bamba de Areco managed a single goal in the period, and struggled

for control of the ball.

A choppy third period saw UAE falter as La Bamba de Areco scored two unanswered

goals to tie it up at 4-4.  The two teams exchanged single goals and it was deadlocked

at 5-5 in the fourth chukker.

UAE picked up its rhythm in the fifth, as the La Bamba de Areco offense froze.  UAE led

7-5 going into the final chukker of regulation play.

A strong finish by UAE resulted in a solid 10-6 win and a perfect 3-0 record in

preliminary Cartier Queens Cup play.  With the loss, La Bamba de Areco fell to a

disappointing 0-3.

Seven of the eight quarterfinalists have been identified in El Remanso, Dubai, Zacara,

UAE, Black Bears, Cortium and Talandracas.  The final spot will be determined by a

shootout between three League II teams-Les Lions (1-2) EFG Bank Aravali (1-2) and

Twelve Oaks (1-2).

Quarterfinal play will get underway with two matches on Saturday, June 8.  UAE will

face Dubai at noon followed by a 3pm contest between El Remanso and Black Bears.  

On Sunday, June 9, Cortium will play Talandracas a noon, and Zacara will meet the

winner of the League II shootout between Les Lions, EFG Bank Aravali and Twelve

Oaks.

Black Bears Polo team

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