It was a dream England debut for Charlotte Pykett, scoring the game-winning goal to seal the victory in the Silver Jubilee Cup match at Cirencester Park Polo Club on Saturday, 24 June. 

In an electric match between England and the USA, it came down to an extra chukka to find the winner, as neither team was able to draw ahead despite brilliant play from both sides. 

The visiting Americans were exceptionally well-mounted with top-class ponies generously lent by Nina Clarkin, Ollie Jones, and Adolfo Casabal and La Mariposa. This made for an all-out contest between two experienced teams on the fantastic Cirencester grounds. “The crowds were treated to the perfect international polo fixture,” said the HPA’s Director of Sport Josh Tuthill, “where both teams were well-mounted, and both teams took the lead at some stage. Then to tie the game in the fourth to force the extra chukka, and a golden goal for England – you can’t ask for much more.”

Opening with fierce polo from the outset, the USA were prevented from being the first on the board by an outstanding defence from Tamara Fox. Quick to capitalise, Lottie Lamacraft made it 1-0 for England with a storming run down the pitch, drawing away from the USA’s Kylie Sheehan. A penalty to the USA allowed Maddie Grant to equalise and leave the board at 1-1 at the end of the first chukka. 

England came out full of determination in the second chukka, with captain Sarah Wiseman scoring from a quick-thinking backhand to give England a 2-1 lead. History was made as team newcomer Pykett, facing a huge ride-off from Sheehan, fought through to score her first goal for England on Dubious, a mare much-coveted by England coach Nina Clarkin from the sidelines. Dubious, bred by Davey Allen, would go on to be awarded Polo Times Best Playing Pony at the end of the match.

A superb goal from Malia Bryan followed, sent home with a huge swing, but it would not be quite enough to narrow the gap, as a confident Pykett brought the ball away to notch up another goal and leave the score 4-2 to England at half time. 

The third chukka saw a rapid change of fortunes, starting with a goal from Bryan just touching the ball over the goal line. Another penalty to the USA saw Grant, who was later named Most Valuable Player, bring the score to 4-4, before a change of pace saw her open up and fly down the pitch to snatch the lead for the USA against a strong defence from Lamacraft and finish the third chukka with the USA ahead 5-4. 

Above left: England’s Lottie Lamacraft rides off against USA’s Kylie Sheehan

Above right: Kylie Sheehan drives the ball forward for the USA

“Find your man” was the advice from Nina going into the final chukka, and the England team were ready to battle back against the American challenge. Grant was off to the races again to put yet another goal home for the USA to extend the lead, but England’s Tamara Fox came to the fore in this chukka for the England side and put a stop to the USA’s hopes for a win. Tight play at the goal line saw Wiseman thwarted by Bryan, only for Fox to fire the ball over the line just inches from the goal. A penalty for the USA from the 60-yard line was saved by Fox in great style, who then tapped home a smooth penalty to equalise for England when fortunes were reversed moments later. 6-6 was the score at the end of the fourth chukka, to leave tensions mounting at the team tents and an extra chukka on the cards. 

Knowing the next goal would crown the winner, both teams rode into the final chukka with a game plan in mind and everything to play for. Fast play resulted in another penalty for England, with Fox stepping up to the plate again. This one went wide, and England supporters were left wondering if this would be the chance that got away. Nothing to fear though, as England were awarded a penalty 4 and the captain Wiseman stepped up to the spot to take it. Wiseman fired the ball towards the goal along the ground which was helped on its way swiftly by a confident backhand from Pykett, to give England the win and keep the historic Silver Jubilee Cup on home soil.

Nina was full of praise for Charlotte on her team debut, saying, ”Charlotte scored the winning goal, she played absolutely fantastically. She’s performed super well today, she should be really proud of herself. She was awesome!

An overwhelmed Charlotte was beaming as she came off the field: “I’m so happy, it’s so nice to play with these girls – I loved it!” she said – and we look forward to seeing a lot more from her in the future.

Speaking after the match, Nina said “the girls played amazingly, it was a super tough game. They came out really well in the first chukka, and then the Americans seemed to settle into it and came back at us really hard. There was a lot of pressure on our team but they kept their heads, and Sarah captained them super-well. I’m really proud of them. America brought a really good team and were super organised – we couldn’t have asked for better opposition.

This match marked the third time that England have faced the USA during the 2023 international season, and each time the Americans have left disappointed. English victories in the Bryan Morrison, the Westchester, and now the Silver Jubilee will undoubtedly leave a score to settle in 2024.

Above: Charlotte Pykett playing with Dubious, and collecting the Polo Times Best Playing Pony prize

Photos kindly supplied by Tom Reynolds

ENGLAND

Charlotte Pykett (3)

Lottie Lamacraft (6)

Sarah Wiseman (6)

Tamara Fox (6)

USA

Malia Bryan (5)

Kylie Sheehan (5)

Anna Palacios (5)

Maddie Grant (6)