Scone and Pilot qualified to the championship match of the USPA Gold Cup, following their respective wins against Dutta Corp Show+ and Park Place, in the semifinals of the second leg of the prestigious The Gauntlet of Polo, that took place on Wednesday March 22 at the USPA-owned National Polo Center-Wellington, set in Wellington, Florida. The tournament sees thirteen teams up to 22 goals, in participation.
Early in the morning, Scone defeated Dutta Corp. Shos+ (received one goal on handicap) by a 14-10 score. Despite Dutta Corp. Show+ managed to tie at 8-all at half time, Scone bounced back and dominated the remaining chukkas, and were able to get the first ticket to the final. The winners had Tomás Panelo once again, subbing in for the injured Pelón Stirling. In the afternoon, Pilot and Park Place had the rematch of the 2021 final, but Andrey Borodin’s lineup had none of it; although Park Place remained in the lead during fourth chukkas, Pilot came from behind in the two last chukkas to claim a narrow 15-14 win.
The USPA Gold Cup was established in 1974, and was played at Oak Brook Polo Club, in Oak Brooks, Illinois, before moving to Milwaukee Polo Club, in Hartland, Wisconsin through 1975-1978. In 1979, it landed in Florida. Like the CV Whitney Cup, the USPA Gold Cup will be entirely played at the at the brand new USPA-owned National Polo Center-Wellington, set in Wellington, Florida.
USPA GOLD CUP – SEMIFINALS – WEDNESDAY MARCH 22
SEMIFINAL #1 – SCONE DUTTA 14-10 CORP SHOW+
Scone: David Paradice 0, Poroto Cambiaso 9 (7 goals), Tomás Panelo 8* (4), Cody Ellis 4 (2). Total: 21.
*Subbed in for Pelón Stirling, 9.
Dutta Corp/Show +: Timmy Dutta 4 (2), Joaquin Avendaño 4 (1), Tomas Garcia del Rio 8 (6), Nino Obregon 6 (1). Total: 22.
Score Scone:Â (0-1) 5-2, 7-4, 8-8, 11-8, 12-8, 14-10.
Umpires: Kimo Huddleston & Gastón Lucero.    Third man: Héctor Galindo.
SEMIFINAL # 2 – PILOT 15-14 PARK PLACE
Pilot: Curtis Pilot 0, Matias Gonzalez 4, Facundo Pieres 10, Matias Torres Zavaleta 8. Total: 22.
Park Place: Andrey Borodin 0, Juan Britos 9, Hilario Ulloa 10, Jason Wates, 3. Total: 22.
Score Pilot:Â 1-3, 3-6, 7-9, 10-11, 13-12, 14-14.
Umpires: Julian Appleby & MartÃn Pascual.      Third man: Ronnie Hayes.
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Scone and Pilot will go head-to-head in the championship match of the USPA Gold Cup on Sunday March 26, at 3pm.Â