STELLE ARTOIS MELBOURNE CUP

An overcast, but warm day, were the conditions for the 1st Sunday games of the Stella Artois Melbourne Cup Polo held on the Chirnside Ground. A good crowd in attendance. The first game was Garangula v West Side: Chukka 1. Five seconds into the game Simon Keyte was almost on the money for Garangula but unluckily the ball hit the post. The play was up and down the field at a rate of knots, Sam Hopkinson hit a massive shot for West Side but it went wide. Penalty followed penalty as the teams played great 'cat and mouse' tactics finishing with a penalty favouring Garangula. . Chukka 2. Simons Keyte's penalty shot for Garangula was wide, however followed by a successful goal, still in the first minute! West Side scored, put through by Neil Craig, from wonderful team work which included plenty of 'roaring and bellowing'. Garangula had a shot at goal by Ed Hitchman from a penalty but no joy. The teams used the whole field making it a pleasure to watch for the spectators. Chukka 3. Jack Archibald scored for Garangula immediately matched by one from the stick of Sam Hopkinson for West Side from a penalty. Following a melee or two a massive hit by Simon Keyte to half way and a fair bit of 'appealing' on a whistle, went to the 3rd man, throw in! The score at half time break was Garangula 3 West Side 4. Chukka 4. An instant goal to Garangula leveled the score. James Harper replied with a goal for West Side. The ambos were called onto the field to attend Hoppy for a wrist/hand injury. He played on and the chukka was a tad 'stop/start' not quite the flowing play as before. Each team went wide of the next two penalties but Sam Hopkinson scored for West Side. Chukka 5. There was a well timed charge by Simon Keyte but he hit the ball just wide. Everything got a bit 'tangled' resulting in a penalty in favour of West Side and a goal to Hoppy. A very fast run by West Side no 2 James Harper towards the golf course end resulted in a fantastic goal. Absolutely amazing stick work again by James Harper and another goal was added to their score. Westside ended the 5th ahead by 5 goals. 9 to 4. Chukka 6. Garangula were the first out of the blocks and scored (Gar5 W/S9) and then another from No 3, Simon Keyte (Gar6 W/S9). Garangula were coming home like a steam train! Simon Keyte did a repeat huge hit from a centre field penalty enabling Ed Mathies to score (Gar7 W/S9), and then Ed again scored from a run in by Simon Keyte but the bell went and the final score was Garangula 8 West Side 9. Game 2 Sandalford v Pitchfork: Chukka 1. Glen Gilmore scored first for the red team from a penalty at the golf course end. Corin Gibbs replied and then Greg Keyte scored from a penalty at the centre of field toward the Mansion end. The score at the end of the chukka was Pitchfork 2 Sandalford 1. Chukka 2. Sandalford were the first off the mark, followed by excellent team work from Pitchfork with an answering goal. Then followed by a penalty in favour of Pitchfork which Greg scored. Glen Gilmore then scored twice in quick succession. Another spectacular goal was scored by Glen under severe pressure from Sam Gairdner just on the bell. Score Pitchfork 4 Sandalford 5. Chukka 3 started with Greg Keyte's "signature loft "from a penalty which was perfectly apprehended by Glen Gilmore at full stretch then a fabulous goal by Sam Gairdner from a throw in. Not long after this was a 'whistle concerto' and a penalty taken again by Greg, another magnificent high ball straight through the middle. This was followed by another successful penalty shot to Pitchfork. On the chukka bell Glen took the ball and only needed 30 seconds and was relentless with a score for Sandalford. Score Pitchfork 7 Sandalford 6. Chukka 4. An immediate goal was scored by Sandalford which evened up the score to 7 each. Glen scored again from a 60 yd penalty to put Sandalford in front. Olly Cudmore put them even further in front after he scored too. A massive hit from the centre to a few metres from goal,it looked all the time a winner for Sandalford, but it was pinched at the death by Sam Gairdner for Pitchfork. Sandalford put through another goal at the close of the 4th chukka. Chukka 5. Pitchfork missed their chance in a melee across goal at the start of the chukka then Glen Gilmore took the penalty but was unsuccessful. An impressive run from the marquee side round to the Mansion goal resulted in a score by Olly Cudmore for red. Tex scored for them next and they were running away with the game. Fired up Pitchfork fought back and Sam Gairdner led the charge with a fabulous run, Greg Keyte scored the goal for green on the bell. Chukka 6. Glen scored for Sandalford in the first 15 seconds. He was then supported by Tex Webster and ran the ball 200 yards but unlucky for them the speed beat them and the ball ran over the backline at the Mansion end. Pitchfork took a centre field penalty and Sam Gairdner and Greg Keyte took it to goal successfully. Corin Gibbs took the next penaly for Pitchfork almost in the goal mouth , scored and then they scored again. A great if unsuccessful comeback. The final score was Pitchfork 11 Sandalford 13.