USA vs England

USA DEFEATS ENGLAND

In an historical rivalry that reaches far beyond the nine years of dualing on the polo field at Glen Farm, USA defeated England 10-6 in the Newport International Polo Series on Sunday, September 3. USA’s record against England stands at 3-6.

Team captain Dan Keating, playing in the #2 position for USA, led the charge with a pair of goals and a penalty shot conversion in the opening chukka and another goal in the fourth chukka. His right hand man was Chip Steigler in the #3 position, who scored once in the first chukka, twice in the second and again in the fourth. Tarzan Mark Wright in the #1 position contributed to the early lead with goals in the first and second chukkas. In the #4 position, Gene Goldstein added momentum to the first half with a goal in the second chukka.

England’s Alexander Ballieu posed the biggest threat to USA’s defense, finding an opportunity to score once on the second chukka and in the third chukka two goals as well as a penalty shot conversion. Playing in the #2 position was Christopher Graham who scored in the third chukka. English team captain Nicholas Cahoon Danvers played in the #4 position and Leonard Nihan played in the #1 position.

The Labor Day classic was rained out on Saturday and played out on Sunday in four chukkas in the English tradition instead of six, due to soft turf conditions. Determined to get an early lead in the shortened match, USA came out swinging and produced five unanswered goals in the opening chukka, ending play ahead 5-0. In the second chukka, USA’s defensive strategies were effective in keeping England to only one goal while adding four more of their own, to run away with the lead 9-1. In the third chukka, the tide turned as England mounted a comeback with four goals while USA went scoreless, bringing the score closer at 9-5. In the final and decisive chukka each team staged their best effort, holding each to only one point, settling the match in USA’s favor 10-6.

The Newport International Polo Series resumes at 4:00 p.m. next Saturday, September 9, 2000 at historic Glen Farm in Portsmouth. For more information, call 401 847 7090.