Match reports 2006

(an * against a players name signify's the cup holder and responsibility for engraving the team names)

This annual match between the lady members of the club against the gentlemen is always hotly contested and with the ladies have won this event considerably more times than the gents, the gentlemen were keen to get a result.

It started well for the Knaves, having a 1 ½ goal start due to handicaps, they added to their score quickly with a Martin Peaty goal. However their early elation turned to dismay as the ladies star player took control of the match. Despite her svelte appearance the young maiden Matilda Pitts managed to destroy the knaves defense with long passes to her attackers, and as a consequence the ladies soon surpassed the Knaves score to finish with a well deserved victory 4 - 2 ½

1. Lorna Broughton/ Hannah Davies/ Simon Halladay, 2. David Booth, 3. Stuart Broughton

On Sunday two New Forest teams challenged for the Holly Hill Cup, originally presented to the New Forest Polo Club in 1952, it is one of the last trophies to be played for towards the end of season.

The New Forest side immediately stamped their authority on the match with the first goal by Hilary Jackson to take a 1½ - 0 lead after the first chukka. Technically the weaker team on handicap, New Forest continued to out play the Rhinefield side with Hilary Jackson who was having a storming match adding a further 3 goals in the next two chukkas. A goal from Simon Halladay gave the New Forest the lead

In the final chukka Rhinefield finally got their game together and goals from Graham Ellis-Dawe and David Booth gave their team some respectability at 5½ - 2.

On Saturday, the venue was switched to Overton Farm and two teams of three challenged on the first day of play. The day ended with the New Forest side taking a lead of 7 - 3 into Sunday at New Park

Sunday saw Juan Pulido substituting for Tim Upward and Derek Clitherow for Martin Peaty, in addition Graham Ellis-Dawe & Hilary Jackson unavailable for Saturday made the teams 4 a side. The resulting new structure for the teams provide a very even sided contest with each side scoring six goals over the four chukkas and the aggregate result for the New Forest side 13 – 9 over Rhinefield.

Played Saturday afternoon between the Rhinefield and New Forest teams. Rhinefield playing in red opened the scoring with Scott McCauley threading two goals between ponies for an early 2 ½ – 0 lead in the first chukka.

The second chukka was a close affair with neither side managing to get the ball through the posts. In the third Scott McCauley controlled the play and distributed passes well to his team-mates who added to score making 4 ½ - 0 before Tim Upward got one back in reply for the New Forest. In the final chukka 2 more goals gave the Rhinefield team a convincing victory 6½ - 1.

Played over Saturday & Sunday, The Celebration Cup was contested by a New Forest team (-4) and a family team from Somerset playing as Taunton Vale (-2).

The New Forest team started with a 1 ½ goal advantage due to handicaps, however they soon found this was whittled down by the visitors. Some strong play by Kevin Lamacroft and Kevin James took the Taunton into the lead by the end of the 2nd chukka 3 – 2 ½. With a goal by both sides in the following two chukkas, the match was anybody’s to win on Sunday.

On Sunday the handicap difference again gave The New Forest team a slender lead 6- 5 but it didn’t last long. Two goals in the first chukka and a further two in the 2nd with no reply from the New Forest gave Taunton Vale a lead of 9– 6. A goal a piece in the third chukka left the New Forest with a mountain to climb going into the 4th Chukka, and with Taunton Vale adding two more to their tally this entertaining match finished 12 – 7.

The New Forest Polo Club welcomed a team from Tidworth Polo Club to compete in the Budgett League and for the Clitherow Cup.

In difficult conditions due to the earlier heavy rainstorm, the match was very closely contested. Tidworth took a single goal lead in the first chukka and held on to this slender lead through the second and third chukka’s. New Forest created numerous chances in front of goal but just could not get the ball between the posts.

In the final chukka Tidworth managed to score a second goal to wrap up victory, although with only seconds remaining Stuart Broughton scored a very good consolation goal for The Forest

In sizzling temperatures New Park was the venue for the ELLISDAWE CUP, a new tournament for the New Forest Polo Club whereby the winning team also receives a winner’s cheque for their victory.

The event, sponsored by Claire & Graham Ellis-Dawe, provided a weekend of fast, exciting and entertaining polo.

The final was convincingly won 9 - 1 by Norfolk over Little Harrow who were unable to maintain the form that saw them edge out Ellisdawe in Saturdays semi final 5 - 3½. Three goals in the first chukka and the pressure was on Little Harrow who were unable to match the organization and individual performances of Norfolk’s young stars. Norfolk continued to pile on the pressure in the second and third chukka with a further five goals before Little Harrow finally getting through Norfolk’s tight defence with a consolation goal in the third.

A single goal in the forth rounded off a superb performance from the Norfolk team who are all aged 18 or under.

The subsidiary Final was played between Ellisdawe and Sway Swingers who lost to Norfolk 5 - 2½. In the semi final. A good start by Ellisdawe saw them race to a 2-0 lead, however Sway Swingers pegged them back to trail 2-1 after the first chukka. After a goalless second chukka Sway Swingers added two more in third with the last scored by Tim Upward being the decisive winning goal as the forth chukka remained goalless in this tense and close match.

In the sweltering heat on Sunday, the New Forest Polo Club welcomed a team from Orchard Polo Club to play for the Kings Garn Cup.

In a very close first match, Orchard had opportunities to score, but two narrowly missed penalties allowed the New Forest to take victory 1 – 0.

In the second match Orchard were up against the Rhinefield team who having a lower team handicap were always going to find the day difficult. Orchard running out victors at 3- 1½

In the final match, Rhinefield were no match for the by New Forest team and were beaten easily 7-1½.

David Booth, Martin Peaty, Major Bruxner-Randell (sponsor), Claire Ellis-Dawe, Stuart Brougton.

The final was held between Emlor & Coombe Place with Emlor emerging victorious 5 - 21/2

1. Maggie White, 2. Justin Stanhope-White Simon Jackson, 3. Corin Gibbs, Bk. Simon Jackson

The subsidiary final was played for by Maize Dulce and Churchill, with Maize Dulce running out winners 8 - 2

On a weekend of glorious weather, the New Forest Polo club hosted its annual Spring Tournament.

The Spring Tournament was contested by four 2 goal teams playing exciting polo with “nail biting” finishes to both the County Galway final and the subsidiary match for the little Poet Cup.

Maize Dulce 6 Emlor 4 Some excellent polo and a close match with Maize Dulce putting the game out of reach for Emlor in the final seconds of the 4th Chukka.

Coombe Place 4 Higher Farm 3½ With a ½ goal start due to a difference in team handicaps, Higher Farm started strongly taking a 2½ goal lead. However the higher handicapped team proved to have just enough strength to pip their opponents for the cup.

As a prelude to the main tournament, three new forest teams played for the Dunlop Cup over the two days in a “round-robin” match and was won by Rhinefield.

On Saturday the team came up against a strong Legal Action team who finished victorious 61/2 - 4

On Sunday the New Forest team regrouped and gave a good team performance making it an enjoyable match to watch fininshing winners over Kingsettle 6 - 31/2

Jeff Picksley has only been riding for 1 year and on Saturday he played in his first tournament. Also joining him on The Forest team was Stuart Broughton in his first match of the season and together with their team-mates Hilary Jackson & Jamie Murray the ran winners of the Remnants Cup.

In the first match The Forest found themselves 3 down against New Park before some fine play by Stuart Broughton and superb solo goal by Hilary Jackson brought the final score to 5-3 in their favour.

In their second match The Forest were up against Rhinefield who were a player light and battled well with Graham Dawe initially hampering Stuart Broughton’s playmaking to enable them to take single goal lead. A change in tactics and with a player advantage the match turned and The Forest ran out winners 4-1.

In the final match New Park were beaten by Rhinefield 3-0 although in reality this was a closer match than the score suggests.

In a change from the published programme, members of the New Forest Polo Club played for the Champagne Trophy.

The three teams New Forest, Rhinefield and New Park all played their part in an enjoyable afternoon's polo. The all girl New Forest team with Claire Ellis, Hazel and Hilary Jackson played well together and won their match against the New Park team. Rhinefield were the strongest team on the day winning both their matches and included a strong performance from Jamie Murray scoring three goals.

The traditional season opener had three teams challenging in a round-robin tournament. After three close matches of two chukkas each, the tournament was decided on goal difference with the New Forest team emerging victorious. The team then received the Chaplin Cup from the sponsor Major John Deane.

Match Reports - 2006