The second game of the opening day in the 2021 Cartier Queen’s Cup featured a resounding victory for Great Oaks LL, defeating Emlor 15-6 on The Duke’s Ground at Guards Polo Club to begin their title defense.
A complete team effort for Great Oaks LL resulted in seven assists on an efficient 12 for 18 shooting from the field to overwhelm Emlor throughout the second half. All four Great Oaks LL players contributed at least two goals and an assist in the well-rounded performance, but it was Bartolome Castagnola who led the way with seven goals. Held to just three field goals, Emlor was unable to keep pace with the impressive Great Oaks LL offense that controlled open play to capture the 15-6 triumph. 
In the opening stages of the game, Castagnola scored back-to-back goals to give Great Oaks LL the early 2-0 lead as Emlor was unable to establish consistent possessions in the attacking half. Accounting for his team’s first four goals, Castagnola was making his mark for Great Oaks LL, while an organized defense limited Emlor to just one goal each from Agustin Merlos and Alfredo Bigatti by the end of the second chukka. Before the chukka expired, Dillon Bacon drove forward and scored two goals in quick succession, extending the Great Oaks LL lead to four. Emlor’s duo of Merlos and Bigatti brought them back within three by halftime, but Great Oaks LL continued to control the ball in open play entering the second half.
A Penalty 4 conversion for Merlos to begin the second half gave Emlor some hope as the deficit was at just two goals and leaving plenty of time to mount a comeback. However, runs from Castagnola and Guillermo Terrera were converted for Great Oaks LL, swinging momentum back in their favour and restoring the four-goal advantage. Over the final two chukkas, Great Oaks LL emphasized their balanced attack as Cruz Heguy scored all three of his goals during an 8-1 run to finish the game. Shooting 67% from the field, Great Oaks LL ran away with the 15-6 victory as they look to retain the Cartier Queen’s Cup.