kneppcastlepoloclub

The First match of the Wakefields trophy was between newcomers Sciurus-Pilara and Bakers farm on Thursday evening.  For the first time this season we witnessed a penalty shoot out as Sciurus-Pilara’s horses couldn’t manage a 5th Chukka. The first seven players scored their respective thirties and it was down to the Sciurus-Pilara 3 goaler to score his and take the shootout to the 40-yard mark. Unfortunately he blasted wide and Bakers progressed to the semis.

We held three games on a beautiful Friday evening. Bad Company young guns Will Batchelor and Izzy McGregor helped to overcome the more seasoned Silver fox/Novate side. Jendens just beat the weekend’s visitors from Brightling La Fuerza Verde with a 60-yard shot in the dying seconds from Jack Richardson. In the last game Grange continued their early season form and eased past a Hoes farm team who were forced into a last minute team change with one of their players not turning up.

On Sunday the sun graced us with another appearance at Knepp Castle Polo Club to provide perfect conditions for our finalists. Grange and Jendens were to go head to head again to decide the winner. These two teams just seem to be too strong for their other opponents in the early season. Jendens beat Bakers farm in their semi final with a bit more conviction than their first round game and Grange beat Bad Company in the other semi with a goal from John Bunn in the 5th Chukka. The addition of Piers Lakin and India Clevely must have had an effect on the Jendens team as they had a great day in front of goal converting ten goals overall. And despite a strong final chukka Grange could only manage six. Which meant that Jendens were the winners of the Wakefields trophy. This was a much-needed boost for the local team after coming last in the 4 goal last weekend.

After winning their Saturday games La Fuerza Verde played Silver fox/Novate in the subsidiary final. The team from Brightling put in a great team performance and just edged the encounter. There were definitely a few question marks over the teams minus 2 goal handicap, as they seemed to be a match for anyone this weekend.

Bakers Farm won the 3rd vs. 4th play off, beating Bad Company on Perretts 2. This seems to be a happy hunting ground for Mark and Caio.

Sciurus-Pilara came away with their heads held high in the end with a narrow victory in the wooden spoon against a Hoes farm team with a changed line-up for the 3rd day in a row.