Match Report

Despite the adverse weather conditions Polo Wicklow had a very busy Christmas schedule and missed only one days play due to storm damage on all access roads. Visitors came from America, China and Holland and where possible were included into the Christmas period tournaments. The highlight of the three tournaments was the visit of the Patron of the Royal Berkshire Polo Club Brian Morrison, and his family to spend the New Year in Ireland. The combination of father and son both sporting handicaps of 2 was a challenge the Irish players could not miss. Michael Herbst donned the blue shirt and made up the third man for the Royal Berkshire team, Craig McKinney 1, Joe O'Connel 3, and Negro Fernandez 3 played for Polo Wicklow.

The Royal Berkshire Polo Club boasts some of the best polo facilities in England including an All Weather Arena so with 1 goal on handicap in the visitors favour , all other odds were even. Umpire Susan Albarracin was in charge and the ball thrown in.

Jamie Morrison pounced ,flicked the ball to the boards, a quick retrieval followed with a sixty yard rocket of a shot and the first goal was in. Losing no time O'Connel hit in and followed the line, over running the ball it was left for McKinney to slice a brilliant forehand from the twenty five yard line to between the posts. Not pausing for breath the chukka raced on using the boards constantly and consistantly the pace never faltered, by the second chukka the score was even at 4 all. A 15 yard penalty against the Wicklow team signaled the beginning of a period of lack of concentration on the part of the Wicklow players, no longer working as a team the game was halted time after time for infringements and the goals clocked up for the visitors, taking full advantage, the Morrison -Herbst trio put together classical moves with the Herbst backhand going into overdrive. Not a shot passed the veteran player and whilst in constant vocal communication with Jamie and Brian who had their attacking of the Irish goal timed to an art, Herbst timed his passes to perfection as each one reached its destination and was converted.

Fruhstuckspensionen ZandvoortThe visitors had gelled into a machine and with the cushion of 5 goals they were not going to let it go without a fight, McKinney had the first touch of the ball, turning swiftly he was able to power a shot up to the well positioned Fernandez , a twenty yard drive returned the ball to just within reach of the galloping McKinney to accurately tap it home. A surge to the English goal in retaliation, a hit out stopped by Herbst and a blistering backhand from the mid line added to the score. A spirited chukka played at a breathtaking pace logged up another 7 goals.

ERROR MSGSpectators were watching one of the fastest games that have been played out in the Polo Wicklow Arena, as each horse was only playing for one chukka of the match, the energy level was very high, adrenaline flowed in both man and beast. The mid way break gave the Wicklow players a chance to cool down and the fourth chukka was played out with flare. The run of play changed from attack to defense to attack and with the pace not diminishing goals were scored at either end. The English team hunted out their prey, eluded them and scored, individual goals from O'Connel and McKinney kept the home players within reach, attempts by the Irish players to claim the line were thwarted and very strict umpiring kept all the players in tow.

Two chukkas to play and the game had settled into one of craft and skill, although not in total unison a spectacular goal was conjured from the mallets of all three Irish players, a stopped volley hammered off the boards was pushed on to Fernandez by McKinney and as O'Connell galloped up the boards he met the pass on his off side and with precision slammed the ball goalwards. A lofted hit secured Brian Morrison's line, an angled under the belly shot accurately caught the advancing Morrison Junior who finished off the move with a off side slice to make another goal.

The sixth and last chukka with the scores even at 22 to both teams and all to play for. Leaning out of the saddle the throw in was scooped up on the near side by Herbst, spinning his pony round he claimed the line and the ball , clearing with a backhand to Jamie Morrison who picked up the ball and controlled the angle, using the boards to bypass a charging ride off by McKinney the ball looped round the players and opened up enough space for Morrison to regain position and net a tidy goal. Picking up the hit in McKinney found space to tickle the ball off the boards and a sharp angled under the neck shot secured the Irish a goal. One more goal each and the clock ticked away the final seconds, an infringement in front of the English goal gave a penalty to the visitors. The vital deciding shot, carefully taken by Jamie Morrison was always going to be the winner, the final score being 24 to the Wicklow side and 25 to the visiting Royal Berkshire team in the highest scoring match played to date at Polo Wicklow. Sadly the return match scheduled for the following day was cancelled due to the storm damage to the roads.

The next confirmed International Tournament takes place on the 24^th and 25^th of January when a team from Scotland will arrive.

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