The second game of Day 3 in the Cartier Queen’s Cup featured the return of father-son duo Adolfo and Poroto Cambiaso to the Queen’s Ground at Guards Polo Club in a convincing 12-6 victory over White Crane.
Even through the first four chukkas, Scone Polo dominated the end of the match by scoring the final six goals and keeping White Crane off the scoreboard. First half penalty shooting from White Crane’s Nico Pieres kept his team in the game, but inaccurate 2 for 11 shooting from the field ultimately prevented White Crane from keeping pace with the Scone Polo attack. Poroto Cambiaso was exceptional for Scone Polo, finishing with seven goals on a variety of runs, while their organized defense limited any high-quality scoring chances from White Crane to capture the 12-6 victory.
Holding a two-goal advantage on handicap, White Crane fought to maintain that advantage through the opening chukka, holding off Scone Polo for the first five minutes until Poroto Cambiaso scored to bring his team within one. A Penalty 3 conversion for Adolfo Cambiaso quickly followed to leave the score at 2-2. Carrying over their momentum from the first chukka, Scone Polo’s Adolfo Cambiaso contributed two of his team’s three goals in the second chukka and winning the possession battle that left White Crane without a field goal in the first half. Despite the inability to convert from the field, White Crane inched closer by the end of the half, pulling within one goal on Pieres’ second penalty conversion to trail 5-4.
Reorganizing at halftime, White Crane produced their strongest chukka of the game, led by James Harper who effectively possessed the ball and scored his first goal of the game. Tied at 6-6, the outcome was left to be decided in the final two chukkas and it was Scone Polo who impressed with a dynamic attack led by Poroto Cambiaso. Thwarting any White Crane attack, Scone Polo quickly turned around the play and Poroto Cambiaso continued to finish with accuracy. Responsible for all four of his team’s goals in the final chukka, Poroto Cambiaso put a stamp on Scone Polo’s victory with a strong defensive play that led to a long pass from Isidro Strada and a breakaway run to goal to secure the 12-6 win.