The first of three matches England is set to play against Argentina this year resulted in a brilliant finish for the home side at Cirencester Park Polo Club on 22 June 2024.

It was the England women’s team who led this charge, with the team of Nina Clarkin (10), Hazel Jackson (10), Milly Hine (8), and Charlotte Pykett (4) lining up opposite Argentina’s team of Lia Salvo (9), Mia Cambiaso (8), Cande Fernandez Araujo (9), and Cata Lavinia (6) to battle for the Diamond Jubilee Trophy. Two enormously strong teams on a handicap of 32 goals apiece, there was plenty of debate in the clubhouse on who would come out on top.

It was England’s Nina Clarkin who took possession of the ball from the throw-in, but an early foul by England gave Argentina an opportunity to pull ahead with a penalty 4. Lia Salvo came forward to take the penalty. Antics from her seemingly over-fresh pony resulted in the ball hitting into teammate Mia Cambiaso, but Mia reacted quickly to fire the ball through to start the game at 1-0 to Argentina.

A hit out from Argentina gave Milly Hine time to shine; a huge drive down the field found Nina Clarkin on the boards who battled through the traffic to find Milly again. Milly sent the ball to a perfectly-placed Charlotte Pykett, who set off on a great run to goal and looked to repeat last year’s form before a foul from Mia Cambiaso stopped her in her tracks. Milly Hine stepped forward to take the penalty, looking the picture of confidence on Bonita, and sent the ball straight through the posts to equalise with half of the first chukka left to play.

A great save by Nina Clarkin allowed Hazel Jackson to take the ball right the through the pack and well into the Argentine half before another foul gave England a penalty, which was taken again by Milly Hine to give England a 2-1 lead.

Argentina’s game began to unravel and the umpires – Peter Wright and Pepe Araya with third man Dave Allen – had their work cut out as fouls came thick and fast in this half of the game. Hazel was fouled again to give yet another penalty to England. This time it was a penalty 4 and a superb 60-yard hit from Nina Clarkin made it 3-1 to England and put pressure on the visiting team. There was a brief reversal of fortunes as Mia Cambiaso found herself in an “England sandwich” and was awarded a penalty 2, which she sent home with no mistake to bring the score to 3-2.

The second chukka started with a fantastic goal from Cande Fernandez Araujo, taking the ball all the way from her own half and breaking through an England blockade to score after less than a minute and equalise at 3-3. That would be the only goal in this chukka, with neither team able to break through the other’s defence over the next seven minutes, to go into half time with the scores still equal.

The third chukka started with a scuffle in the England half, where a foul on Nina Clarkin gave England a half-way hit. The team obviously had a plan in place, and Milly Hine brought the ball forward slowly before firing it through the field where it was almost turned around by Cande Fernandez-Araujo before Nina Clarkin got the break and left the ball primed for Milly to send through the goal posts and put England in the lead once again.

In another great display of teamwork, Hazel Jackson got possession and sent the ball forward to a waiting Milly Hine, who made a superb neck shot to send the ball towards goal. It was almost carried too far away in the resulting scuffle, but a fantastic backhand from Milly found Hazel ready in prime position again to swoop in and make it 5-3 while the Argentine backs were still turned.

It looked like Cande Fernandez-Araujo would put Argentina back in touch, but brave defence by Milly combined with a stunning backhand from Hazel, fantastic footwork from Nina, and strong marking from Charlotte kept the ball out of Argentina’s hands and resulted in the ball crossing the back line wide. Argentina made several more attempts on goal but all went wide, and the England lead began to look more and more uncatchable.

The third chukka ended with another scuffle and the whistle blown for a foul, although it was unclear who which team had won the call and it would be taken into the final chukka of this tense game. It was England who started with possession, but an early foul gave Argentina a penalty 4 which was brilliantly defended by England to maintain their lead.

Hazel made a bold run for goal just leaving the ball behind at the last moment, where it was taken by Lia Salvo but stolen quickly back by Nina Clarkin who made a superb break from tight play on the boards to find Milly Hine, who masterfully slowed the play and battled through the mêlée in the goal mouth to tap the ball in and put England 6-3 ahead with just under six minutes to go.

Things hotted up in the final few minutes, with some brilliant play by both teams, but neither could get away from the other long enough to find the goal. Some good backhands from Milly Hine and two strong breakaways by Nina Clarkin gave the England supporters plenty to cheer for, but the score would remain at 6-3 when the bell rang and England would put their name on the trophy for another year.

The winning team was kindly presented with the trophy by Lady Bathurst.

Best Playing ROR was awarded to Nina Clarkin’s Nipper, a New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred.

The KBIS Best Playing Pony, presented by Executive Director Lawrence Gill, went to the beautiful grey mare V8, known as “Chopper” at home, who was played by Milly Hine in the fourth chukka and is owned by her brother Louis Hine.

Most Valuable Player was awarded to Argentina’s Cande Fernandez-Araujo.

All eyes now turn to the next time England will face Argentina, for the Coronation Cup on International Day, 27 July at Guards Polo Club.

Photos by Polo UK Photography