Scone Polo Captures The Gold Cup $100,000 Prize

The finale of the second leg of the Gauntlet of Polo was played on a hot, sunny day at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC), with Scone producing one of their best performances of the season, defeating Tonkawa 13-10 on the Home of the U.S. Polo Assn – Field 1 to raise the USPA Gold Cup and walk away with the $100,000 prize. 

Scone asserted their offense at the beginning of the final, scoring seven of the first eight goals to leave Tonkawa trailing from behind throughout the game. The fast pace set by Scone resulted in four early penalty goals from Adolfo Cambiaso and Peke Gonzalez, adding to a strong open play performance from Poroto Cambiaso that ultimately allowed Scone to build and maintain their large lead. The trio, along with David Paradice, was able to turn their focus to defense after the offensive outburst, holding Tonkawa to just three first-half goals. With the victory, Adolfo Cambiaso captures his 15th USPA Gold Cup® title, but it may be one of the most memorable, playing alongside son Poroto for their first victory together at IPC.

Winning the first throw-in, Scone worked the ball downfield, and after missing their first attempt at goal, they regained possession, and Adolfo Cambiaso received a Penalty 1 to open the scoring. Unable to convert consecutive penalty attempts from the 60-yard line, Tonkawa was left scoreless in the first seven minutes as Scone added to their lead. Paradice left the ball in front of goal for an assist to Poroto Cambiaso, and before the end of the first chukker, Poroto struck again for his second goal and a 3-0 lead. Tonkawa fought hard to match the pace set by Scone, finally breaking through for their first goal of the game on a field goal from Caset, but the accurate penalty shooting of Scone changed the opening half. Converting back-to-back Penalty 4 conversions, Adolfo Cambiaso gave Scone the commanding 7-1 lead, putting them in a position to focus on containing Tonkawa’s elite duo of Caset and Francisco Elizalde. Beginning to chip away at the deficit, Tonkawa’s Elizalde brought his team within four, but on the final play of the half, Adolfo Cambiaso broke free for his fourth goal of the game, sending Scone into the half with the five-goal advantage.

Tournament scoring leader Caset sought to bring Tonkawa back in the game in a determined start to the second half that saw the opening few minutes go in Tonkawa’s favor, pulling one goal closer, but their inaccurate shooting ultimately prevented them from pulling closer. Converting just 33% of their shot attempts through five chukkers compared to 50% for Scone, Tonkawa struggled to slow the father-son duo of Adolfo and Poroto Cambiaso, who scored two goals each in the fourth and fifth chukkers to enter the final seven minutes with a 12-5 lead. Gonzalez opened the sixth chukker with a goal for Scone, all but securing the victory as time ticked down. Tonkawa fought until the final whistle, scoring two field goals and adding three penalty conversions, but the late-game run was not enough to pull within reach as the Scone organization celebrated their first USPA Gold Cup® title, defeating Tonkawa 13-10. 

Most Valuable Player was awarded to 15-year-old Poroto Cambiaso, finishing with four goals in the victory. Best Playing Pony honors went to Adolfo Cambiaso and David Stirling’s Monjita Coronada, while the Argentine Bred Best Playing Pony was given to Lovelocks Camuserich.