The sun made a timely appearance last weekend to complete an idyllic summer scene at Cuppers including picnics, Pimm’s, and plenty of polo! With 6 colleges competing, spirits were high and support was out in force.
Play kicked off in style with a nail-bitingly close call between St Peter’s and a Hertford-St Cross alliance. Imposing long shots from Jerome Kamm and strong attack from his teammates were matched by some determined ride-offs and resolute defence from Peter’s. Despite a collision and subsequent spill, Wilhemina von Blumenthal bravely played on to help her team to a 1-1 draw at the chukka’s end. It was a robust penalty shot from Andreas Kranke during sudden death that decided the victory for Peter’s.
Brasenose gave the combined Wadham -LMH team a run for their money and sailed through to the final with an easy 4-0 win. Confidently captained by half-blue Jamie Lindsay, they played with considerable panache, outwitting their opponents at every turn despite some bold defence from Daniel Zajarias-Fainsod. Powerful shots by Lindsay and some excellent backhands from Harold Turot kept the ball in the Brasenose half and the goals coming in.
The two mixed teams met in what was to be a patchy semi-final. Littered with stopped play and penalty shots, it was by no means an easy win for the more experienced Hertford-St Cross side. Taking the title of Most Improved Player, Karlijn de Nie provided some formidable defence alongside Lauren Clarke, but ultimately it was not enough to contain a 3-1 win from Hertford-St Cross who took third place overall.
The final between Brasenose and St Peter’s was the perfect fast and furious ending to the tournament. In another closely-fought battle, Lindsay scored some magnificent goals to earn his title of Most Valued Player. There was plenty of action throughout, with Brasenose almost containing a defended penalty by Kranke, and a strong hook by Turot foiling an otherwise sure goal from von Blumenthal just metres from the line.
Ending on a 2-2 draw, it fell once again to (two rounds!) of penalties to decide the game. Though notably Tosti-Ibanez didn’t miss a penalty through the entire tournament, it was winning shots from Lindsay and Philip Santucci that secured the well-deserved 2013 title for Brasenose.
The day was rounded off with a barbeque for players and spectators in the evening sun with a prize-giving of the shiny new Cupper’s Trophy. It was also a chance for the club to thank David Ashby and Martin Foulkes at the Oxford Polo School for all their hard work this term, and for everyone to make sure none of the Pimm’s went to waste!
