Dubai Polo Team won the final of the Gold Cup on Sunday 21st July, winning 11-3 against La Dolfina Great Oaks at Cowdray Park Polo Club.
Both these teams had excelled through the league stages of the tournament winning all of their matches but while Dubai breezed past Black Bears in the Quarters and Talandracas in the Semis, La Dolfina Great Oaks squeaked through the Quarters against Desert Palm and again by just one goal in the Semis against King Power.
Looking closely, perhaps the outcome was not such a surprise with La Dolfina Great Oaks having to fight more fiercely for their spot in each round and considering the last time the two teams matched up was in the league stages of the Queen’s Cup where Dubai also won by a considerable margin.
Dubai’s superior tactics were established from the very first whistle when 17 year old Beltran Lauhle burst out of the line out to score the first goal, shortly followed by two more Dubai goals. La Dolfina Great Oaks just couldn’t seem to pick up possession under heavy Dubai defence, each La Dolfina player covered and then some.
Dubai’s strategy to block Poroto out of the game become clear early doors, the number 4 never able to get into space or run as is his style with at least two Dubai players on him at every run. Effectively neutralised throughout the game by the hard working Dubai side, La Dolfina Great Oaks struggled to make any headway or attacking plays while Jeta, Antonio Heguy and Beltran Lauhle powered in goal after goal. Multiple missed scoring opportunities in the second half for La Dolfina Great Oaks saw any chance they got at goal go wide and 3 missed penalties and 9 missed shots at goal saw them squander their chances and the gap on the scoreboard get wider and wider. 10-2 down in the fifth chukka it was a done deal and in a master class of tactical and strategic team play Dubai ran out the easy winners at 11-3 with 10 goaler Jeta Castagnola named Most Valuable Player.
Chukka Breakdown:
Score Progression:
Game Statistics:
