The White Oak UK Polo Series 2019

The White Oak UK Polo Series 2019 Tournament action review by match commentator Stephen Wundke

Semi- Final, Laurent-Perrier vs Arbuthnot Latham

Umpires Leon Allen On a clear but windy day players were treated to a perfect polo surface and at 3.00pmsolo effort from great a with well started and Tristan Pimble threw the ball in to start. The chukka s both Alex Arbuthnot Latham, Ed Winterton (2) scoring a superb solo effort. In the opening exchange Alex Wood meant which ball, the holding and well Boucher (1) and captain Tom Collie (2) were combining (LP) have Perrier Laurent ties. opportuni missed of couple a with presented was Latham (-1) of Arbuthnot in Late up. warm to while a taking early scratchy played together often but not for some time, looked had an defending time his of much spent had who (3), on Coddingt Johnny reliable the the first Chukka of the chukka, opportunity to score and he didn’t miss, to make the scores level and in the dying stagesbut was just what play of run the against was This 2-1. it make to score the to added Jamie Thomas (1) Laurent Perrier needed.

start playing their The second chukka saw Laurent-Perrier, marshalled by captain Richard Thomas (0) happy to do the normally Thomas, R . retention ball great with and back the from methodical polo, building the chance, squander didn’t and piece the in early grunt work at the back found himself in front of goal from open once score, the to more twice adding on Coddingt with this after traffic 3-1. It was one way and sheet score the on get couldn’t Latham t play and the other a great strike from the 60. Arbuthno long the at down 4 just in go to e fortunat were They attack. of wave after wave repel were struggling to interval and they really needed to regroup.

he changed his forThe third chukka was a credit to Tom Collies (2) of Arbuthnot Latham, tactics as of play but it was period this in side either by scored goals no were There tide. the mation and stemmed in the third stanza no less exciting. It really was a battle and on balance Arbuthnot Latham held sway was tough. nothing, with away come to and g everythin gave Latham t Arbuthno score. but they couldn’t on and Coddingt by defence in up swept penalty, The ball travelled quickly from end to end and without PerLaurentfor mention special with other, the at n Winterto and Collie and end one Captain Thomas at couldn’t simply Latham t Arbuthno that ensure to rier’s Will Westwood (0), who worked tirelessly marking break free. The score remained 5-1 at 3/4 time. of a comeback and There was a sense that Arbuthnot Latham needed to score first to have any chancea quick fire response goals, 3 within to back them got whilst Ed Winterton (2) added one to his tally and from the stick of Coddington saw the match end 5-1. of the structured The highlights of this game was both the 2nd and 3rd Chukkas. The second because for the way Tom third the and freely score and cy team work that saw Laurent-Perrier gain the ascenden clearly show didn’t line score The did. they as up tighten and scoring the stop to worked Collies (2) team corporate Friday The l. semi-fina 1st quality high the evenness of these two teams in what was an intense crowd loved it.

Final Score:

6 - Laurent Perrier Coddington 4, J Thomas 2

2 - Arbuthnot Latham E Winterton 2

Semi- Final, White Oak UK vs Partner Tech

White Oak UK were captained by Guido Basile (-1) and supported by James Clayton (-2) whose handicap mark must be under consideration, the redoubtable and reliable Ben Malasomma (2) and handicapped player in Polo, Charlie Walton (3). Partner Tech, were a representation of possibly the best Beverley Polo Club, captained by Andrew Foreman (0) and supported by sons Ben Foreman (1), Ashley Foreman (0) and their professional Sebastian Funes (3). The game promised to be one of all-out attack and it didn’t disappoint with no fewer than 19 goals scored in a fixture that saw White Oak UK start with a 1 1& /2 goal advantage.

This was exhibition polo. The ball moved quickly from the restart and time and again Clayton picked the ball up at the end of the pack as it made its way through a flurryeither Funes or two then showed their opponents a clean pair of heals to score readily. Charlie Walton of sticks. These of explosive with 6 goals to his name and showing everyone that his string of ponies was nothing short are ready to take on the best. Funes fought gamely for his side with 5 goals of his own but the added weight of Malasomma’s 5 goals for WO was too much for the Partner Tech team. Special mention for James Clayton’s score from open play, where he showed maturity that belies his -2 handicap.

Final Score: 141/2 - White Oak UK

Walton 6, Malasomma 5, Basile 1, Clayton 1 7 - Partner Tech

Funes 5, A Foreman 1, B Foreman 1

The Final, White Oak UK vs Laurent-Perrier

Teams

White Oak UK Laurent-Perrier 1. James Clayton (-2) 2. Guido Basile (-1) (Capt) 3. Will Padden (2) 4. Charlie Walton (3)

1. Will Westwood (0) 2. Jamie Thomas (1) 3. Johnny Coddington (3) 4. Richard Thomas (Capt) (0)

Just the one change for the final, with Will Padden replacing Ben Malasomma in the White The weather was perfect, as was the pitch and with our Umpires Leon Allen and Tristan Oak UK team.

Pimble on the field, match referee Tony Keyte got us under way at 2.30pm.

White Oak UK started with 11/2 goals and after Charlie Walton had scored twice in the opening chukka the 31/2 goal lead at the interval seemed like a mountain to climb for Laurent-Perrier. over the pitch and it seemed like Laurent-Perrier couldn’t find a way of cutting down Walton was all his supply with Padden fitting in to the playing style easily.

with 5 unanswered Following the first chukka, Laurent-Perrier come back onto play with new momentum scored 3, with Thomas Jamie Oak. White for back one pulled Walton before goals from Laurent-Perrier from the tightest two from open play, Coddington one from the 60 and the second was an amazing goal polo and the crowd electric was it post, the off in went that drive off out of angles, a wonderful inside At half time the were on their feet. It was a chukka that had everything, 6 goals and a yellow card.

1 go. would one this way which knew score was 5-4 /2 and no one

and Coddington In the third Chukka the traffic was again one way with J Thomas adding 2 more goalsgame and Padden the into Walton get to another from the 60 spot. White Oak UK didn’t seem to be able had strangled was being marked regularly by the ever reliable and disciplined Westwood. Laurent-Perrier time the score quarter three At go. let to the White Oak UK supply, going forward and they weren’t about was 8-4½ and you just started to think that might be enough.

couple of times White Oak UK needed to score quickly and whilst they took the ball down the field a Thomas and CodJ posts. the through before any score was recorded they simply couldn’t get the ball seemed to have every dington were working brilliantly together with the ball and R Thomas and Westwood on to score and went and Walton late move covered. By the time J Thomas stole the ball off a disconso marched on to with Coddington scoring again from the spot, the game was all over and Laurent-Perrier victory. crowd just It had been a cracking final played by two committed teams who showed the large Saturday ride-offs speed high amazing some strikes, great goals, of lots g, everythin why Polo is so engaging. It had between Coddington and Walton and fabulous teamwork.

Scorers : 10 – Laurent-Perrier J Thomas 6, J Coddington 4

41/2 - White Oak UK

C Walton 3

Coddington who The Series Most Valuable Player – sponsored by Harrogate Water was awarded to Johnny defence. and attack both of blend super a played and scored 8 goals in his two matches There was one run The White Oak UK Best Playing Pony was awarded to Charlie Walton’s Bay Mare- Mina. the two days. over nce performa mare’s e of electric speed and balance that summed up this incredibl The White Oak UK Series Champion for 2019 – is Team Laurent Perrier.