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Three times England

English team won the Coronation Cup for the third consecutive year

Exciting match against South Africa at Guards Polo Club

By Iain Forbes Cockell ("The Major")

The sun at last made an appearance at Guards Polo Club for the Coronation Cup on Sunday 22 July 2012 after an absence of months when all we have had is rain.

An experienced England team played a young enthusiastic and talented South Africa team, who were hoping to fare better than on their country's previous contest at Guards in 1994.

South Africa started with one goal on handicap and started the first chukka with an attack from Nachi Du Plessis to brother Jean but intercepted by Luke Tomlinson and passed to James Beim whose shot hit the goal post but was then knocked in by Mark Tomlinson to level the scores at 1-1. A quick pass by Nachi to Chris Mackenzie ended with Chris being fouled and Tom de Bruin scoring from a penalty 2. (2-1 to SA). The next England attack resulted in a Mark Tomlinson goal (2-2). A great backhander hit high in the air by Nachi put South Africa back in the lead 3-2 at the end of the first chukka.

A Penalty 5b was awarede to England by Malcolm hit up to the goalmouth but backed by Tom de Bruin then intercepted by Luke Tomlinson who tapped the ball to score 3-3. Spot hit by Tom but returned by Luke Tomlinson to mark who ran to goal then Malcolm hit an under the neck shot to put England in the lead 3-4. Penalty 4 for South Africa just wide by Tom du Bruin and at the end of the chukka England leading 4 - 3.

England continued the lead in the third chukka. A spot hit by Tom de Bruin to Chris Mackenzie but Malcolm Borwick struck an amazing shot high in the air from 80 yards out to put England 5-3 in the lead. Another England attack ended with a Malcolm Borwick backhander going just wide of goal. 5-3 at end of the chukka to England after a fast and exciting first half,

Following half time, South Africa made a comeback, when Jean Du Plessis struck the ball from 60 yards out to close the gap to 5-4 early in the chukka. A Penalty 3 by Luke Tomlinson pushed England back up to a two goal advantage 6-4. A pass from Jean to Nachi was intercepted and a pass made to James Beim who under pressure from Tom de Bruin scores with a lovely near side under the neck shot to score (7-4). After the throw in Nachi took the ball and tapped several times to score (7-5). Again from the throw in Tom de Bruin tool the ball and scored (7-6) just at the end of the chukka.

South Africa maintained the pressure over England in the fifth chukka. A run by Chris Mackenzie ended with Luke Tomlinson hitting a backhander out to the side then a foul allowed England had a Penalty 4 but it ran out of play. A Penalty 5B by Malcolm up to Mark Tomlinson was taken towards goal but the goal shot was wide. A spot hit to England after a foul in the lineout was struck by Malcolm right up to James Beim who hit the ball nearside of his cane and just missed. A Penalty 3 to South Africa taken by Tom de Bruin and struck well to level the scores at 7-7. A Jean Du Plessis attack just before the end of the chukka went wide.

A very close last chukka was expected by the huge attendance at Guards Polo Club. A Penalty 2 awarded to England early in the 6th chukka and Luke Tomlinson scored to put England into an 8-7 lead. A big shot upfield by James Beim to Mark Tomlinson almost made a goal but it was wide. Nachi Du Plessis then had a great run and put the ball into the goalmouth where tom de Bruin pushed it through to level at 8-8. Then down the other end of the field Nachi put a shot wide. Then James Beim pushed the ball through for a goal 9-8 in the final seconds for an England win. This was a fast open running game with very little whistle and was close throughout.

MVP: Luke Tomlinson

BPP: Yacht, 11 year old gelding from Australia owned by James Beim.