England too strong for Jamaica

Led by four goals from captain Tim Bown, England trounced a below-par Jamaica team 9-3 in their international polo match at the Kingston Polo Club, Caymanas Estates, on Sunday.

The series of match continue today with Jamaica and the visiting Newport team from Rhode Island in action at Chukka Blue in Sandy Bay, Hanover, starting at 3:30 p.m.

This match will provide a mixed bag, with two Jamaicans and two visitors playing on each team.

On one team, local players Paul Chin and Jordon Samuda will play alongside their visiting counterparts, while John G. Byles and Sam Wates are the local representatives on the other team.

In Sunday's match, England received a one-goal handicap from the Jamaicans owing to them having to ride strange horses. With this advantage, they wasted no time in taking control, racing into a 4-1 lead at the end of the first chukka.

Closing stages

As the match progressed, England asserted their authority to lead 7-3 going into the final chukka, closing off in style with Bown and Tristen Pemble assisting each other for a goal each in the closing stages. Paul Knight was the fourth member of the USA team.

Bown led the scoring with four goals, while Pemble and Roy Trisk flicked in two apiece. For Jamaica, captain Paul Lalor scored twice, while female player Rachel Turner scored once during the first chukka. Mark Melville and Jonathan Dougall completed the local team.

On Saturday, England defeated a Kingston Polo Club team 4-3 with Bown and Trisk each scoring twice. James Robertson with two goals, and 19-year-old professional polo player Jason Wates, one, replied for Jamaica.

Play will continue at the Kingston Polo Club on Friday afternoon, the St Ann Polo Cub at Drax Hall on Saturday, before returning to the Kingston Polo Club for Sunday's finale.

- Orville Clarke