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India beats Australia - FIP World Cup Polo day 3
Story and pictures: Brett O'Callaghan
Indian Captain Angad Kalaan, scored 6 of the teams 7 goals and together with Manupal Godara, proved a very strong combination and kept India right in the game. The scoring was close throughout, as both teams struggled to find form in the first half of the match which was dominated with the umpires whistle for fouls and penalties. In the fourth chukka the game started to open up with the hitting and running becoming better and it became goal for goal.
Both teams were playing their second match of the tournament. Following their narrow 1 goal win against Pakistan, the Australian team tried the player rotation system for Wednesday's match by replacing two of their players, however the new team combination took a while to settle down and potentially lost Australia the match. Australia, who next play South Africa on Saturday, need to improve their form if they are to stay in contention and qualify for the FIP World Final in Mexico.
India, which lost its first match to host team New Zealand, changed only one player, which improved its team play.
The 50 world-class players representing Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, India and New Zealand are competing to win a place in the FIP World Cup final to be played in Mexico in September 2007. The players arrived in Auckland last week, and spent the weekend choosing from more than 150 ponies, all provided by host nation New Zealand. The Zone D play-offs continue in Clevedon every afternoon this week (except Friday) with the final day play on Sunday 4th March. Admission is free weekdays, and everyone is welcome to come along and get behind one of the teams.
India 7½ – Australia 6
28 February
India had its first win at the Federation of International Polo (FIP) World Cup Zone D final tournament on Wednesday, beating Australia 7 ½ - 6 in a very even match. India received a ½ a goal head start as they were a 13 goal team vs. Australia's 14 goal on handicap.
India's Manupal Godara v Australia's Dirk Gould
On Thursday India plays Pakistan, in a match Pakistan has to win in order to stay in the tournament at 2.30pm and New Zealand take on the fiery South African team at 4pm. Both games are being played on Smiths Lawn, Ryburn Park, Clevedon.
Angad Kalaan (India)
Scorers:
India: Angad Kalaan – 6, Maupal Godara 1
Australia: Rob Ballard – 4, Andrew Williams – 1, Will Gilmore – 1
India's Tarun Sirohi vs Australia's Will Gilmore
Robert Ballard (Australia) and Vishal Chauhan (India)