Buckmaster Trophy Thriller Ends in Historic Draw

In a nail-biting encounter at the Beaufort International on 14 June 2025, the Young England and Young USA teams delivered a showdown for the Buckmaster Trophy, with the match ending in a dramatic and historic 6-6 draw — the first time the trophy has ever been shared.

USA’s Lucas Escobar opened the scoring with a textbook Penalty 2, swiftly followed by another to give the Americans a 2-0 lead.

England responded with big hits from Jake Coventry and Alfie Hyde testing the USA defence. But it was Hyde who ignited England’s hopes with a spectacular 60-yard drive, firing a brilliant angled shot to bring the home team back into contention at 2-1.

Escobar made a similar attempt in the next play, but pushed his shot just wide. Moments later, Hyde turned the game on its head, stealing possession well behind the 60-yard line, he stormed down the field, evading pressure from Lily Lequerica and Escobar to tap in the goal of the game and equalise at 2-2.

Just before the half-time bell, a sharp backhand from Hyde found Coventry, who zig-zagged through the American defence to score his first goal for England and take the lead 3-2 just seconds before the bell rang for half time.

Early in the second half, Escobar converted a Penalty 3 with precision to level the scores at 3-3. Robbie Slatter made great break from the next throw in, but possession was stolen by Lacquerica and the ball was taken down the field by Secunda, sent back to Escobar and then sent wide by Laquerica. Unfortunately for the home side, the ball crossed the back line off an England mallet, and a safety 60 awarded, which was converted by a stunning hit from Escobar for 4-3.

Momentum continued to swing. A scuffle on the boards led to a spot hit for USA, and although England’s Coventry cleared the initial threat, another foul saw Escobar fire home a Penalty 2, stretching the USA lead to 5-3.

England, refusing to fade, mounted a powerful counter-attack. Hyde launched a massive hit from the halfway line, forcing another foul from the American defence. Calm under pressure, he slotted the Penalty 2 to bring England back within one at 5-4 as the teams entered the decisive fourth chukka.

The final chukka was a showcase of grit and determination. USA won the early line-up, but England’s Hyde again stole possession and nearly scored with a brilliant cut shot that missed by inches. The Americans countered quickly, earning a Penalty 5b. Escobar launched a rocket from halfway, but a superb save by Hyde kept England’s hopes alive, taking the ball to the side where Hyde was fouled, giving England a halfway hit of their own.

With less than two minutes to play, a late foul from England handed Escobar another Penalty 2, and he made no mistake, pushing the USA ahead 6-4. With the crowd urging them on, England rallied once more. A foul on Robbie Slatter gave Hyde the chance he needed to narrow the gap to 6-5 with just 44 seconds remaining with a Penalty 2.

Then came an unexpected situation. With just seconds left, an infringement from an American horse crossing the line of the throw in gave England one final opportunity. Hyde stepped up for the halfway penalty. With the home crowd holding its breath, he launched an enormous drive downfield where Robbie Slatter was waiting — coolly tapping the ball home with just one second left on the clock to make it 6-6.

The 30 seconds of overtime were played out without score, and with neither team able to summon the horsepower for a deciding chukka, both sides agreed to share the trophy — a fitting end to a fiercely contested and unforgettable match.

A day of determination, drama, and dazzling polo concluded with the Buckmaster Trophy being shared for the first time — a true testament to the rising talent of both nations.

It was Finn Secunda who stepped forward to collect the Most Valuable Player prize, and in an incredible clean sweep he also picked up the Explora Best Playing Pony prize with Tamara and the Emerson & Watson Best Playing Retrained Racehorse with Sebastian Chialvo’s She’s A Sheedy.

ENGLAND (6)