The USPA Gold Cup, second leg of The Gauntlet of Polo, continued on Thursday, March 11, with two matches. The tournament sees nine teams, up to 22 goals, compete. Teams are broken down into two leagues. Action is hosted at International Polo Club Palm Beach, in Wellington, United States.

Park Place, recent winners of the CV Whitney Cup, claimed their first win in the competition after defeating Cessna (with Camp Campbell filling in for his father Chip). The first half belonged to Cessna, who outscored Park Place to secure a 4-2 advantage by half time. But Park Place didn’t give up – they came back to life in the second half, claiming a 6-4 lead by the end of the fourth. Thanks to solid work in both attack and defence, Park Place (with youngster Jack Whitman filling in for Andrey Borodin) displayed remarkable team play in the following chukkas. Three unanswered goals by Hilario Ulloa in the last sealed Park Place’s 11-6 victory.

Up next, Scone, runners up of the CV Whitney Cup, took on Santa Clara. They managed to defeat Luis Escobar’s team by 13 goals to 8. After securing an impressive 4-1 advantage after the first chukka, Scone went on to dominate the match and hold Santa Clara back. Their relentless pressure led to a series of penalties in their favour, which were accurately converted by Peke Gonzalez, one of the season’s best players so far. While Miguel Novillo Astrada and Pipe Vercellino scored for Santa Clara, it was almost impossible for them to match the powerful offensive power of Scone, who, with only one chukka remaining, had claimed a commanding 12-6 lead. Peke Gonzalez sealed the deal scoring a single goal in the last to give David Paradice and his boys the 13-8 win.

The CV Whitney Cup final is scheduled for Sunday, March 28. 

The Gauntlet of Polo is streamed live on  GLOBAL POLO. 

PARK PLACE 11-8 CESSNA

PARK PLACE: Jack Whitman 0 (1 goal), Hilario Ulloa 10 (6), Juan Britos 8 (1), Matt Coppola 4 (3). Total: 22.

CESSNA: Camp Campbell 2, Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario 7 (4), Nino Obregon 7 (1), Jared Zenni 6 (1). Total: 22.

Score Park Place: 0-2, 2-3, 2-4, 6-4, 8-6, 11-6.

SCONE 13-8 SANTA CLARA

SCONE: David Paradice 0, Poroto Cambiaso 6 (4 goals), Peke Gonzalez 6 (7), Adolfo Cambiaso 10 (4). Total: 22.

SANTA CLARA: Will Johnston 2, Pipe Vercellino 6 (2 goals), Miguel Novillo Astrada 9 (4), Luis Escobar 5 (2). Total: 22.

Score Scone: 4-1, 5-3, 7-4, 9-5, 12-6, 13-8.

The USPA Gold Cup continues on Sunday, March 14:

11am: La Indiana vs. Scone

3pm: Pilot vs. Coca Cola

USPA Gold Cup: Fixture & Teams

IMAGES:

Photo credits: AGUSTINA FONDA

Park Place vs. Cessna

Scone vs. Santa Clara