Third time lucky again for the Pieres brothers - by Iain Forbes-Cockell ("The Major")

At the third attempt, the Pieres brothers won the Gold Cup just like in 2008. They won the Queen’s Cup and the Argentine Open at the third attempt. History has repeated it with the Gold Cup this year.

Dubai reached the final with a convincing 16- 9 win over Les Lions 2, with Adolfo Cambiaso scoring 9 of their goals and on great form. La Bamba de Areco get on a 11- 10 win over Sumaya, with Facundo Pieres scoring 10 goals. Milo Fernandez Araujo had a fall in the last chukker forcing substitute Lucas James to play in his place.

Dubai started quickly and opened up a 2 goal lead at the end of the first chukka. La Bamba reorganized and pulled back two goals to narrow the lead to 2-3 in Dubai’s favour at the end of the second chukka. All 5 goals with penalties.

In the third chukka, the game opened up and two goals for Dubai by Magoo Laprida and Adolfo Cambiaso gave them a 5-2 lead before La Bamba’s four goal reply, 2 from Facu, one from Gonza and one from patron Jean Francois Decaux, put them into a 6-5 lead at the end of the third chukka.

Dubai responded strongly in the fourth chukka win two field goals from Adolfito, a penalty 4 from Magoo Laprida and another field goal from Martin Valent.
Facu scored one incredible field goal for La Bamba hitting the ball twice in the air nailing the score 7-9 for Dubai.

In the fifth chukka, La Bamba reversed the score of the previous chukka and scored four goals. Gonza hit a great nearside under the neck shot to bring the score to 8-9. From the lineout Facu got the ball and passed to Gonza who scored again to tied at 9-9. Facu them had a great run to score on his gray 7 year old Sheltie, who I’m sure will develop into an outstanding pony in the next year.

Adolfito Cambiaso then suffered a dead leg after a strong ride off and needed a few moments to recover. Magoo Laprida scored from the resulting Penalty 2 to tie at 10-10. In the next play, Gonza run the ball to goal but was fouled and Facu scored from Penalty 2 to put La Bamba back into 11-10 lead. Adolfito missed a Penalty 4.

The sixth chukka started with a penalty to 6 (safety 60) which Adolfito hit wide. He then had a run dawn the field and missed a goal shot. Facu nearly robbed Adolfito of the ball but fouled and a Penalty 4 was awarded to Dubai. Adolfito hit that shot just wide to the right.

Facu then had a great run the leng of the field and Gonza scored a goal to go 12-10 up. From the lineout Gonza had a run towards the scoreboard end goal and under pressure from Magoo, he managed a little nearside forward neck shot to put the ball through the goal to make it 13-10.

Many thought that Dubai would win 9 missed opportunities (1x p6, 2x p4, 1xp3 and 5 shots wide), let La Bamba off the hook and some brilliant combination play by Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres meant that they run out the winners.