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July 13, 2008
Just like in 2004, St. Tropez Polo Team won the International Polo Cup. This time, Corinne Schuler and her guys beat Wasabi 11,5 -8 in a very close match, which also had some tense moments. Polo started at 10am in St. Tropez, but all the eyes wer on the main final, due at 5pm. The International Polo Cup is the most important tournament in St. Tropez, along with the Gold Cup, in September. St. Tropez received half goal by handicap, and the first seven minutes were very close, mostly dominated by the good job of both backs, Wasabi´s Martin Espain and St. Tropez´s Juan Martin Garcia Laborde. Wasabi´s Carlos Farinati scored first in the second chukker. After the throw in, St. Tropez attacked through Francisco Irastorza and Corinne Schuler. By the end of the second chukker, Wasabi was leading 4 - 3,5. People was still arriving in St. Tropez Polo Club, when the third chukker begun as Sr. Tropez made all the efforts to get a tie, mostly through the constant attacks by Irastorza and Julian de Lusarreta, to close the gap to half goal, 5 - 4,5. St. Tropez came stronger in the fourth chukker, and with many field goals by Francisco Irastorza, Juan Martin Garcia Laborde and Julian de Lusarreta, they took a 7,5 - 7 lead. It was a tough match without doubts, as showed in the collision between Carlos Farinati and Francisco Irastorza. Irastorza himself converted a 30 yards penalty, which meant the tenth goal for his team. Seconds later, Irastorza converted another penalty to secure St. Tropez the final 11,5 - 8. After the throw in, an unclear play ended up with Carlos Farinati falling, who argued with some of his rivals. The umpire decided to send him off. With only seconds to go, Wasabi´s Karen Brink got injured in her face, fortunately with no consequences. St. Tropez finally won the tournament they conquered last in 2004, in a tight and exciting match which also had speed and technique. As people approached to the field, the players posed for the final picture. |
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St.
Tropez at the top