Group play concluded in the inaugural Talacrest Prince of Wales Championship on Wednesday at Guards Polo Club with two games that left all five teams eagerly awaiting the results. At the top of the standings, Park Place secured an undefeated 4-0 record, led by tournament scoring leader Facundo Pieres’ 23 goals, while their opponent in the final had yet to be determined.
Park Place’s road to the final began in the second week with hard-fought, one-goal victories over both Monterosso and Vikings. A tournament-best defense that has allowed 7.5 goals per game, Park Place first improved to 3-0 by relying on their duo of Juan Britos and Facundo Pieres. Few teams can provide the two top scorers from the field, but Park Place’s duo has been crucial to their success. Overcoming inaccurate 20% shooting against Monterosso, Park Place’s defense stood tall in the sixth chukka. With their sights set on the final, Park Place emerged victorious in another close game, winning on the final play against Vikings when Pieres hit an incredible shot from distance. Winning in a variety of different ways, the undefeated Park Place team booked their spot in the final on Sunday.
After an opening round win, Vikings faced a difficult road through the second week, running into a determined UAE Polo Team in an 11-8 loss. Despite holding a 1-2 record entering Wednesday, Vikings still had an opportunity to claim a spot in the final, with Juan Martin Zubia a crucial factor in their offense. The leader in penalty goals with 16, Zubia has provided a consistent source of goals, but it has been the balanced attack that features Chris Mackenzie, Sebastian Merlos and Zubia, who all rank in the top 10 in field goals that was the early key to their success. In a must-win game against Bardon, Vikings had their opportunities to claim the victory, but inaccurate shooting over the final two chukkas and impressive play from Bardon’s Francisco Elizalde seven-goal performance ended their chances of a tournament title. Finishing on a high note, Bardon will challenge for the Talacrest Trophy.
All attention turned to the final match of group play as Monterosso met UAE Polo Team, with the winner advancing to the final against Park Place. Displaying a strong passing attack, Monterosso assisted on six of their eight goals, pressuring the UAE Polo Team throughout the match. Despite being without young Lucas Monteverde Jr. in the line-up, UAE Polo Team battled into the final seconds, receiving significant contributions from both Alfredo Cappella and Bartolome Castagnola Jr., while Cesar Crespo stepped admirably into the line-up, nearly propelling UAE Polo Team into overtime with two sixth chukka goals. As the pressure rose, Monterosso held off the final chukka surge from UAE Polo Team to capture the 9-8 victory and grab the spot in the final against Andrey Borodin’s Park Place.