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INTER-UNIVERSITY POLO
OXFORD WRIDDEN OFF BY EXETER
THUD . . . the braying crowd fell into stunned silence, as Pearl executed a perfect nearside under-the-neck shot to bring the score to 4-3 in Exeter's favour . . . then a polite ripple of applause surfaced around the ground from Oxford's groupies.
Exeter University Polo Club's second year of existence was marked by the defeat of Oxford in the second round of the National Universities Polo Tournament: a fitting start to the new season.
The tournament had begun with an inauspicious start, with Exeter drawing Edinburgh - the highest handicapped team - in the first round. Despite valiant efforts by Savelli riding off the opposition with increasing brutality, dismounting the opposition No.3 rider in the process, not even skipper Pearl's skilled horsemanship could prevent the more experienced and better-mounted opposition from gaining the upper hand to leave the final score 11-7 in their favour.
Cambridge 1 was next, again a formidable opponent. Pearl spurred his team using his knowledge of the opposition to let Ellis and Savelli expose every weakness in Cambridge's defence. This saw Exeter take an early lead with Ellis winning the ball at the throw-in, breaking through the opposition lines and taking the ball up the field at the gallop. The Cambridge No.2 however showed a remarkable turn of speed punishing Ellis viciously, hooking his stick as he attempted an offside forehand for the goal. Pearl however, in close support, was able to finish the job, neatly tapping the ball between the posts. Cambridge then rallied to the challenge, scoring in quick succession and establishing a firm lead. In desperation, to prevent yet another goal, Ellis and Savelli brazenly flouted the rules, riding off the Cambridge No.3 from both sides, to howls of disapproval from the crowd. The umpire was similarly unimpressed and awarded a penalty goal, sending Pearl into a tirade of Argentinian, "Utiliz le capa . . La concha . . ." provoking cheers from the crowd. The bell sounded the end of the chukka: 5-3 to Cambridge.
Edinburgh 2 followed: now Exeter was showing greater cohesion, playing a much tighter game. Revenge was on the cards and the team rose to the challenge, providing a concrete defence from which to establish their offensive manoeuvres. This led to Exeter's decisive goal in the closing seconds: a superb offside backhand by Pearl, to the joy of the crowd - 4-3 to Exeter.
Having lost out on the medals , Exeter was fighting for fifth place against Oxford again the superior side on paper. Drawing from the lessons learned in the previous matches Exeter set out to dominate from the start. Late night recruiting at the previous nights Toga party had swelled the number of Exeter`s groupies cheering from the stands. To the delight of the crowd, Exeter opened the game in storming fashion Savelli winning the throw in with a huge offside forehand galloping up the pitch to the right hand boards reaching under his ponies neck to cross the ball to where Pearl lurking unmarked in front of the goal, tapped the ball between the posts. There quickly followed another goal for Exeter a superb combination of teamwork the honours being done by Ellis. Exeter`s play remained tight, preventing the opposition riders from gaining even an inch to manoeuvre the ball. At the end of the first chukka the score read 2 -0 to Exeter.
A quick change of horses saw Pearl mount his prized mare Estrella, but the crowd was more surprised to see he was now wearing spurs, the stakes were high. Pearl proved to be right as Oxford came back to score two goals in quick succesion, they had saved there best ponies for the final chukka. The scores were equal as both teams lined up for the throw in in the final minute…. Oxford no. 1 player won the ball only to be hooked by Savelli, the ball richocheting off the clash of sticks away from the play. Both sides broke their horses from the gallop to a standstill, slipping on the wet ground, spinning their horses, spurring them on to be the first on the line of the ball. Both teams jostled for right of way, each player trying to ride off his opponent using the full force of both horse and rider. Ellis was first to the ball neatly tapping it up the field only to be hooked by an Oxford player, Savelli was also closed down as he was ridden onto the boards by Oxford, but Pearl on the faster horse was able to outmanoeuvre his opponent unleashing a huge forehand narrowly missing the left-hand post. The ball came off the boards at a sharp angle catching the players offguards but Pearl had seen it, leaning dangerously out of the saddle under his ponies neck he executed a perfect nearside shot, goal! The final bell sounded 4-2 to Exeter.
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