The Warwickshire Cup

Victorious Vikings

2021 Warwickshire Cup Final

The Warwickshire Cup Final Teams:

22 JUN FINAL 26 JUN

Emlor (22)

Spencer McCarthy (1) Max Charlton (6) Augustin Merlos (7) Alfredo Bigatti (8)

Vikings (22)

Siri Evjemo-Nysveen (0) Chris Mackenzie (6) Sebastian Merlos (8) Juan Martin-Zubia (8)

Where: Cirencester Park Polo Club, Gloucestershire

The Warwickshire Cup Final saw the sun make an appearance over Ivy Lodge as Vikings faced Emlor in The Warwickshire Cup Final. Vikings kicked off proceedings with two goals from 60 yard penalties, pushing them ahead in the first chukka, 2-1. The second chukka saw both teams compete for possession and the lead, which resulted in plenty of whistles from the umpires and with it resulting penalty opportunities; with penalty conversions on both sides, the second chukka ended with an impressive under-the-neck-shot from Chris Mackenzie, who was later named Most Valuable Player, ending the chukka 4-3 in favour of Vikings. The third chukka got off to a slow start, with both teams chasing the ball around the field to no avail, until Juan Martin-Zubia put another goal on the scoreboard for Vikings with an angled mid-field goal; two more Emlor goals from Max Charlton saw the scores tied at 5-5 at half-time. After the midway break, the fourth chukka continued in a similar ilk to the chukka before it, with back and forth play resulting in no goals for either team; in the end a pass from Max Charlton to Spencer McCarthy nudged Emlor into the lead, but Vikings tied the scores again with a penalty conversion. A determined Emlor failed to be defeated and continued to push up the pace in the fifth chukka, however Vikings’ Martin-Zubia was on superb form and raised the score for his team, with Emlor’s Sebastian Merlos hot on his heels with a last-minute goal at the end

Vikings, winners of the 2021 Warwickshire Cup Final

Photography by John Hankin

of the chukka. Going into the final period of play the tension was mounting, with both sides anticipating a possible extra chukka; but Vikings’ Martin-Zubia scoring streak continued and despite efforts from Emlor to level the scores, Vikings ran out the winners 8-7.

Emezeta Rodhesia, played by Juan Martin-Zubia