USA vs France

USA DEFLATES FRENCH ON BASTILLE WEEKEND

July 15th, 2000, Portsmouth, RI: USA and France battled to a 12-12 tie in the Newport International Polo Series, indicating an end to France’s long held dominance against their American rivals.

Although the French raised the ante this year by bringing a high-goal professional player and a stable of top thoroughbreds, USA showed its increasing depth of skill and experience. France roused their cheering section of loyal francophiles and patrons of the annual dual, with 5-goal professional Michel Dorignac, playing #3, who maintained a steady pace of scoring for a total of 9 goals, with 2 in the first, third, fourth and fifth chukkas and a single goal in the second. French team captain, Mathias Guerrand-Hermes in the #2 position, was marked successfully by USA and held to single goals in the second, third and fourth chukkas. Veteran of international polo and family patriarch, Patrick Guerrand-Hermes, played defense in the #4 position.

Local player, Leonard Nihan, was a last minute substitution in the #1 position. With a heavily weighted defense, USA packed a powerful 1-2 punch with William Crisp in the #4 position, scoring two key goals in the first and sixth chukkas and one in the second, along with team captain Dan Keating in the #3 position, scoring two in the first and third chukkas and one in the second. Gene Goldstein in the #2 position put a goal on the scoreboard in the third chukka while preoccupied with befuddling the attempts of France’s Dorignac.

Kim Nickerson, playing in the #1 position, tacked on an optimistic goal in the fifth to whittle away at France's ominous lead.

The much-anticipated match satisfied every emotion with high stakes and alternating leaders. Hoping to send the French home empty handed this year, USA established an early 3-2 lead in the first chukka. Each team nosed ahead by two in the second, 5-4. Both charged hard in the third with three goals each, ending the first half in USA’s favor 8-7. France hogtied their opponents when the second half resumed, with three more goals and took over the lead 10-8. USA revived in the fifth chukka with two convincing goals but didn’t gain ground against matching goals by France, 12-10.

In the final desperate chukka, horses and riders had nothing but courage left to draw upon in the fierce combat, but USA’s determination tied the match 12-12 before the final bell. The defending champions conceded to end the match in a tie.