SOUTH AMERICA CONQUERS ENGLAND AT COWDRAY

The Audi England polo team fell to South America at Cowdray Park, Sussex, on Bank Holiday Sunday (26 August 2007) in the last international test match of the season. Though the home side dominated the first four chukkas and led until the last, the visitors edged ahead in an exciting final chukka to win 12-10.

The match rounded off a summer series in which Audi England defeated New Zealand in June at Beaufort Polo Club, Gloucestershire, and lost narrowly to Chile at Guards, near Windsor, in July.

Audi England, captained by seven-goal Luke Tomlinson powered to a 5-1 lead early on at Cowdray’s pristine Lawns Two ground, displaying brilliant teamwork and looking by far the more practised of the line-ups. The crowd had good reason to be confident of a home victory for Tomlinson, Nacho Gonzalez, Malcolm Borwick and Satnam Dhillon – who had got married the previous day.

England were 7-3 ahead soon after half-time, but their opponents – comprising four Argentines, all of whom have spent the summer playing as professionals in the UK – steadily closed the gap. In the fifth chukka their energetic forward Gaston Moore whacked in the goal of the match, a powerful shot from near the boards that soared into the trees beyond the pony lines.

In a nerve-wracking last seven minutes, South America scored from penalties to overtake and, although England had several chances to equalise, the visitors held on, cementing their victory with another goal moments from the final bell.

Malcolm Borwick said: “We were leading all the way but they tightened up play towards the end and went ahead with some short penalties. They’re extremely talented players. Despite the result, this match proved that England’s six- and seven-goal players are on a par with Argentines of the same handicap.”

Santiago Gaztambide said: “England started far stronger than us, but we took control later. It was nice to play in such an open, fast match, played in a seriously competitive yet friendly spirit.”

The same day at Cowdray, a new Ladies’ champion was born after Cadenza beat Audi – 2006 and 2005 winners – 6-5 in the Audi British Ladies’ Polo Tournament.

Cadenza’s line-up of three strong young British players and the Argentine professional Marianela Castagnola took control from the outset, although Audi – captained by Nina Vestey, jointly the world’s strongest female player – were never far behind. Castagnola was named most valuable player.

This is the third year of Audi sponsorship of the England team, during which time the 15-strong squad has benefited from coaching, fitness training, nutrition advice and extra international outings on home soil in the form of the summer test series.

Editor’s notes

Teams:

South America: 1, Gaston Moore (7); 2, Santiago Gaztambide (7, capt); Andrea Vianini (7); 4, Bautista Sorzana (5); Total: 26

Audi England: 1, Satnam Dhillon (6); 2, Malcolm Borwick (6); 3, Luke Tomlinson (7, capt); 4, Nacho Gonzalez (6). Total: 25

Ladies’ teams

Cadenza: 1, Alice Gipps (0); 2, Erica Hodges (0); 3, Sarah Wiseman (0); 4, Marianela Castagnola (2). Total: 2

Audi England Ladies: 1, Teresa Beresford (-1); 2, Clare Milford Haven (0); 3, Nina Vestey (3); 4, Vanessa Taylor (0). Total: 2

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