Rundle Cup and Inter Regimental Polo Reports
Published: 22/07/2011
RN HAS MIXED FORTUNES IN THE 2 PRINCIPAL SERVICE POLO TROPHIES BUT SECURES AN OUTSTANDING VICTORY TO WIN THE INTER REGIMANTAL TOURNAMENT FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR.
On a slightly damp afternoon on Saturday 9th July, the Navy and Army met at Tidworth, home to the Combined Services Polo Association, for the Rundle Cup, the highlight of the Services’ Polo season. This year the 3 goal senior RN team of Cdre Richard Mason, Capt Adrian Aplin, Cdr Al Wilson and SLt Hiro Suzuki faced a 5 goal Army side of Lt Col Nick Hunter, Maj Philip Kaye, Capt Harry Wales and Capt Matt Eyre-Brook. Over the last 10 years the tally for this ardently contested tournament has been 5 wins to each Service and the Army were extremely keen to avenge last year’s defeat.
As the weaker team on handicap, the Navy started with a 1½ goal lead but immediately came under sustained pressure and an early attack by the Army allowed Prince Harry to score a good goal to open their tally. The RN were quick to respond but were unable to find the posts and gave away a penalty which the Army duly converted. Not to be deterred, the Navy rallied to press home an aggressive attack which culminated in an excellent tactical goal by Aplin, leaving the RN in the lead 2½ - 2 at the end of the chukka. Unfortunately the second chukka did not go well for the Navy; the Army stepped up the pressure and a lack of team cohesion and some bad luck hampered the RN defence. The Army scored four field goals and the only reply from the Navy was a penalty goal from Suzuki, leaving the RN trailing 3½ - 6 at half time.
In the second half the Navy’s cohesion and discipline improved and they started to dominate the field. Suzuki converted another penalty and Aplin scored an excellent goal with a crisp shot under his horse’s neck, having out foxed the Army pivot to gain position of the ball. But the Army also found the posts, putting the score at 5½ - 7 going into the final chukka. This last chukka was fast and evenly fought but the Navy’s bad luck returned with some unfortunate breakdown in plays and the only goal was an Army penalty which left them in the lead 5½ - 8 at the final bell.
The following day the Navy team met at Guards Polo Club at Windsor for the final of the Inter Regimental tournament. Similar to last year, their opponents were the Household Cavalry who on this occasion were an even stronger 6 goal side of Mark Dollar, Capt Harry Wales, Jack Mann and Maj Rupert Lewis. Although starting as the underdogs, the Navy knew that if they played as they had done in the semi finals, where they had beaten a 4 goal team from the Queen’s Royal Lancers, they could upset the Cavalry’s plans to regain the silver; but they were under no illusions that this would be a hard match and their performance would need to be sharper than it had been on the previous day.
Starting with a two goal lead on handicap, the RN attacked from the very beginning and immediately had the Army on the back foot. Tight marking and good team discipline proved effective and by the end of the chukka the Navy were leading 4 – 1. However in the 2nd chukka the Army settled down and began to recover ground. They found the posts on three occasions with no reply from the RN to level the score at 4 – 4 at half time. Following a constructive debrief by Jason Dixon, the Navy’s coach, the second half found the RN once again playing aggressive but controlled polo, scoring twice and only conceding 1 goal, to regain the lead 6 – 5. In the final chukka the pace quickened and the HCR scored early to level the tally; but in the 5th minute Suzuki had a spectacular run and the Navy once again led 7 – 6. In the last moments of the chukka the RN gave away a 40 yard penalty whilst defending an HCR attack but the shot went wide to seal the Navy victory as the final whistle sounded.
This outstanding win against the Household Cavalry completed an excellent weekend of Services’ polo. Although disappointed to lose the Rundle Cup, victory in the Inter Regimental tournament for the second consecutive year, especially against the cream of Army polo, is testament to the grit, discipline, training and teamwork of the Senior Service. SLt Hiro Suzuki, for the second year running, deservedly won the ‘Most Valuable Player’ award for his outstanding performance at Windsor.
