KING'S CUP
ELEPHANT POLO TOURNAMENT
10 SEPTEMBER 2004 News Update

It was a headline-snatching day at yesterday’s King’s Cup quarter-finals, the tension so tight you’d need a diamond drill to cut through it. The hallmarks: nerves of steel; brutal determination; feisty and passionate play and some of the best elephant polo ever seen.

The day’s thunder was claimed by the afternoon clash between American Express Thailand and Sandalford Winery, who, in a thrilling encounter played a game of such intensity and brute force that the pitch resembled a battle-field. American Express captain Christopher Stafford showed incredible commitment, pumping three goals through the posts in the first chukka and playing in superb synchronicity with Rickard Hogberg and Nopdol Nandhabhiwat.

With the score favouring American Express 3-2 going into the second chukka, the pressure was firmly on Sandalford. However, with the faster elephants on their side, Sandalford gained the upper hand. As both teams pressed for dominance, it looked like Sandalford had lost the chance to overturn the deficit but elephant polo is never over until the gong chimes and with 2 seconds on the clock, Sandalford’s Greg Johnson flicked in the final goal, bringing gasps of exhilaration from the crowd and cries of pain from the Thailand team.

For the first time since the inaugural King’s Cup Final in 2001, it was a Golden Goal decider and after a frantic tussle on the goal-line, Johnson hit the game-winning goal, catapulting Sandalford into the semi-finals.

In the second game of the afternoon, Scotland’s St Andrews House met Mullis Capital in another taut game of polo prowess. The class of St Andrews House’s Alistair Archibald finally shone through, his micro-composure on the ball and sensational aerial play adding a new dimension to the field. Team-mate Wongdeun Pratummalee played an outstanding game, fielding the game superbly with Archibald in an astute formation with captain James Manclark.

Mullis Capital’s Ahmedula Khan hung tightly with Archibald and hit some sizzling shots, but despite the extravagant and colourful antics of the eponymous Robert Mullis in defence and star player Ken McMillan holding his own up front, the rapport between Archibald and Pratummalee won the day for the Scots 2-1.

In the morning’s play, Mercedes Benz Thailand met Chivas Regal in a game that World Elephant Polo Association Chairman, James Manclark, described as the best he’d ever seen. Beautifully played, fast and fluid, Chivas’ Matt Idiens and Mercedes’ Oliver Winter parried shots with the precision of a surgeon’s scalpel. But just when it looked like Chivas had taken control, two consecutive stick breakages while the ball was in the Chivas’ defensive D, handed the Germans two goals on a plate. Coupled with a missed penalty, Chivas’ potential was routed and Mercedes Benz Thailand took the game 6-3.

The 4th quarter final between Mobile Easy Thailand and the irrepressible Bangkok Bank Ladies ended in a 7-2 defeat to the ladies.

Saturday’s match line up sees Mercedes Benz Thailand vs Sandalford Australia in the first semi final at 10am and Mobile Easy Thailand vs St Andrews House Scotland in the second semi final at 3pm. At 2pm the All Thailand Mahouts Championship is a must-see match.