A historical edition of the British Open Gold Cup came to an end on Sunday at Cowdray Park Polo Club as Next Generation defeated Les Lions/Great Oaks by 14 goals to 12 to claim the championship title. While the match was played behind closed doors, due to health precautions, it was a very vibrant game.

Next Generation gained an early advantage and maintained the lead for most of the game. There were moments where Les Lions/Great Oaks were able to come close to tying the score, but Next Generation secured a 3 goal lead in the sixth and held on to it to take home the title. 

The win awarded Jean Francois Decaux his second ever Gold Cup (he won his first in 2009 with La Bamba de Areco). Similarly, the victory was Diego Cavanagh’s second in the Gold Cup final (he first won in 2014, also alongside Adolfo Cambiaso).

But for the Cambiasos, the event was particularly special, as this season was Poroto’s English high goal debut. The victory made him the youngest player to win the title, a record previously held by his father Adolfo, who won the trophy in 1991 at sixteen. This 2020 Gold Cup title marked Adolfo Cambiaso’s eighth (however, in 2005 he missed the final after suffering an injury in the tournament semifinal). After being absent from last season’s English season, it was fantastic to see Cambiaso back in action.

NEXT GENERATION 13-11 LES LIONS/GREAT OAKS

NEXT GENERATION: Jean-François Decaux 0, Poroto Cambiaso 4, Diego Cavanagh 8, Adolfo Cambiaso 10. Total: 23.

LES LIONS/GREAT OAKS: Dillon Bacon 2, Camilo Castagnola 7, Bartolito Castagnola 7, Santiago Laborde 6. Total: 22.

Score Next Generation: 3-1, 4-2, 7-5, 10-7, 11-9, 14-12.

The English high goal will resume on Tuesday with the Queen’s Cup at Guards Polo Club. The tournament will see ten 22-goal teams compete.

PHOTO CREDIT: HELEN CRUDEN.