The Jamaica Polo Association’s Annual Tournament started last week with the 0 to 4 goal Keeling Cup. The Semi Finals were played on Thursday, March 16th, 2006 at St. Ann Polo Club, Drax Hall and the first match started slightly late as road works held up most of the players from the West.
In the first match the “Cowpunchers” team of Doc Masterton, Zander Melville, Lesley Fong-Yee and Babes Melville took on the “Leftovers” team of Shane Chin, Craig Russell, Billy Vernon and Justin Samuda, giving them a 1⁄2 goal handicap to start. The game got into gear quite quickly as both teams had several opportunities at goal as the ball went up and down the field. Zander and Shane both scored and the “Leftovers” stayed in the lead by their handicap advantage. The second chukka was a similarly evenly contested chukka, but Zander managed to put one through for the “Cowpunchers” to take the 1⁄2 goal advantage. Shane came back early in the third chukka for the “Leftovers”, but then Babes hit overdrive – scoring once and assisting his brother Zander in scoring twice, giving the “Cowpunchers” and handy lead going in to the last. The “Leftovers” changed their line up and came back hard in the last chukka with Shane scoring again; before the “Cowpunchers” worked out the change up and managed to shut them down and hold on to win by 5 goals to 31⁄2.
In the second match Craig Russell had to replace the injured Malcolm McDonald on the “Adelphi” team of Steven Fong-Yee, Junior Chin and Paul Chin that met the “Ponderosa” team of Adam Laing, Jason Wates, Randy Mair and Mark Wates. The “Adelphi” team came out firing as Paul Chin opened the scoring, but “Ponderosa” quickly woke up and Jason leveled the score by the end of the chukka. Play was very even in the second and third chukkas with good open polo, but it was Mark that capitalized on his scoring opportunities to put “Ponderosa” up by two by the end of the third chukka. However, father – Mark and son – Jason dominated the last chukka as “Adelphi’s” defense crumbled and “Ponderosa” went on to win by 6 goals to 2.
The “Cowpunchers”, who had to replace Babes Melville with Susan Wates, then met “Ponderosa” in the Final at the St. Ann Polo Club, Drax Hall on Saturday, March 18th, 2006. Lesley-Ann opened the scoring for the “Cowpunchers” early in the first chukka, but Mark Wates for “Ponderosa” tied it up by the end of the chukka. Zander then put one through for the “Cowpunchers”, but the second chukka belonged to “Ponderosa” as Jason scored twice and Mark once to put them well ahead at half time. “Ponderosa” carried their momentum through to the start of the third, as Mark scored for them but then the “Cowpunchers” started to press hard and Zander converted a 60 yard penalty to close the gap. Lesley-Ann flicked a backhand shot in through traffic for the “Cowpunchers” early in the last and they came close to tying up the game up a couple of times in a fast and exciting chukka. However, close to the end Jason stole a knock in by the “Cowpunchers” to seal the win for “Ponderosa” by 6 goals to 4.
The Keeling Cup, a beautiful silver trophy donated in 1936 to honour former President of the A.J.P.A.- Alan Keeling, was presented to the victorious team after the match by Mr. Paul Lalor, Secretary of the Jamaica Polo Association.
The Tournament continues this week with the 5 to 8 goal Marescaux Cup, for which no more than 3 players from the same Club can play on the same team. The Semi Finals will be held on Thursday, March 23rd, 2006 at the St. Ann Polo Club, Drax Hall at 2:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. and the Final of the Marescaux Cup will be held on Saturday, March 25th, 2006 at 4:00 p.m. at the St. Ann Polo Club, Drax Hall between Thursday’s winners.
