Tom Gilkes (left) of the visiting English Polo team plays the ball ahead of his opponent in action from the men's international polo match against Kingston Polo Club at the Caymanas Polo Club on Sunday. Gilkes scored a hat-trick in the English team's 8-1/2 to three victory. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE VISITING English polo teams defeated Kingston Polo Club 8-1/2 to 3 in their five annual match at the Kingston Polo Club, Caymanas Estates on Sunday.
Starting with a 2-1/2 handicap, the visitors came into their own after the second of five chukkas to win impressively. Their team included two professionals in captain Tim Bowen and Charles Seavill.
The Kingston team kept pace with their opponents in the first chukka and actually scored the first of their three goals when captain Mark Wates converted a penalty.
Wates was struck in the face by the ball in the fourth chukka and had to seek medical attention. He was replaced by the Argentinean Juan Humbert. By then, the visiting team was in full cry and paced by three goals from the dreadlocked Englishman Tom Gilkes and three more from Alex Delisle proved too much for the locals.
Scoring for the Kingston Polo Club were Wates, James Robertson and Alexander Melville. The other member of the local team was Paul Lalor.
The English team comprised Tim Bowen, Charles Seavill, Alex Delisle and Tom Gilkes.
The John Tinsley champion-ship trophy was presented to Bowen by the Deputy British High Com-missioner, Paul Nicolopulo.
Paul Lalor, speaking on behalf of injured captain Mark Wates, said: "We had a rough day and tried hard, but they played better."
Bowen, on the other hand, praised Paul Lalor for providing them with some very good horses for the match and wished the locals better luck next year.
Wates sustained a cut above his eye which required stitches.
- O.C.
