La Familia Windhorse won the RSPC Classic with a golden goal in sudden death after the teams were tied 4 – 4 at the end of regulation time. Jennifer Too bravely took the 30-yarder that sealed the fate of Thai Polo, who had played so well and fought so valiantly to the end. In the subsidiary final, La Sarita overturned the qualifying result to beat La Familia 6 – 3 1/2.
In fact, both teams reversed their qualifying league results. Thai Polo had beaten Thai Polo 7 – 5 a week earlier, while La Familia had beaten La Sarita by a half goal on handicap. With the RSPC Triple Crown points decided on league play, Thai Polo actually came out on top, league-wise.
The final as very close one. Neither team wanted to lose, resulting a typically defensive, low-scoring final. Thai Polo’s Argentine 5-goaler, Carlos Pando versus Chilean World Cup winner and 6-goaler Matias Vial of La Familia Windhorse, was very interesting. Both had lower handicapped pros in Juan Manual Garcia Grossi and Nacho Ithurburu to play off.
Thailand played a give and go offense with the interchange play between Pando and Garcia Grossi a pleasure to watch.
La Familia Windhorse relied on Matias Vial’s bombs of long balls from defence. Nacho Ithurburu was smooth on the eye, and a very nice Malaysian debut for this young man from Manzanares.
You can watch the game here:
The league standings, with bonuses based on league qualification play is as follows:
The next cup in the Triple Crown is the RSPC Open. For the first time since 2013, we have six teams playing in the top division in Malaysia. The move the bring it down to an 8-goal league has paid dividends in that we have new patrons and new news playing in Malaysia again. Here are the teams for the 2019 RSPC Open:
Jogo Polo is back, and will play the next two legs of the Triple Crown. Quzier Ambak and Toh Muda Rizal Ramli bring back Tomas “Negro” Gandara. Amran Selamat will maintain the Royal Pahang presence in the league. Standing-by and hoping to play a game or two is former Youth and Sports Minister and SEA Games gold medalist, Khairy Jamaluddin.
Welcome also to Ali Reda, an Australian, and Sylvio Coutinho, a Brazilian patron, who team up with Dr Azfar Mustpha as a r + d gold. They will play with KL Academy of Polo’s Andrew Gebbie.
It should be a great tournament. Here is the schedule:
Related Links:
All Things Equal
The RSPC Triple Crown
With thanks to Killercamphoto Studio and Royal Selangor Polo Club for the use of the video of the RSPC Classic Final.
