It was a close match for the 10th running of the Townsend Trophy on 26 October 2024 at New Bridge Polo Club, but victory stayed just out of reach for the England side, as the power of Tommy Biddle Jr., Pelon Escapite, and Andrew Scott proved too much to overcome.

England captain Jack Hyde scored the first goal for the England team, who also received a goal on handicap, to bring the score quickly to 2-0. A fantastic save of a penalty by Jack Hyde was followed by an agonising miss for Eden Ormerod, fought off the goal by a determined Andrew Scott. In the second half of the chukka, Andrew stayed on the wall to put the USA on the board, while some unlucky moments for England and some good fortune for the USA saw the teams equal going into the second chukka.

The USA opened the second chukka with a huge hit from Tommy Biddle to score a 2-point penalty; showing an amazing arm that would become the undoing of the England game. Toby Bradshaw scored a goal when tight against the boards, before Andrew Scott stole possession and scored to make it 5-3. Toby Bradshaw answered again with a huge shot down the arena but was unfortunate to hit a divot, with commentators Tom Goodspeed and Toby Wayman noting that luck was certainly going the USA’s way. Jack Hyde then scored a superb 2-point penalty to equalise at 5-5, followed by Eden Ormerod performing a miraculous save on a shot from Tommy Biddle, who then sent home another penalty to bring the score to 6-5.

Pelon Escapite and Toby Bradshaw scored a goal apiece before a great play from the England side saw Toby Bradshaw hit a fantastic neck shot down the arena, just missing a 2-point goal, but Eden Ormerod wasted no time in swooping in to tap the ball in to make the score 7-7. Taking another penalty, Tommy Biddle sent a booming shot down the arena with the perfect angle and spin needed to hit the backboard of the goal and send USA into the break ahead 9-7.

With darkness drawing in and the lights on for the second half, the pressure was on the England side to keep the USA behemoth from drawing further ahead. Eden Ormerod started off the effort with a super goal, keeping control of the ball on the wall before switching sides to score for 9-8. At the half chukka break there was some confusion over a penalty, which was awarded to Jack Hyde, sending home a 2-pointer to briefly lead the charge 10-9. Not to be left behind, Tommy Biddle returned an unbelievable 2-point shot to draw equalise at 11-11, with goals following thick and fast from Tommy Biddle and Pelon Escapite to bring the score to 13-11. England struggled to keep control of the ball, with the Americans capitalising on every chance to steal possession whenever the play slowed down.

The last chukka opened with another ‘almost’ for England, as Toby Bradshaw was held off at the goal line by Andrew Scott. A brief tack malfunction for Jack Hyde caused a delay on the field before a goal from Pelon Escapite extended the home side’s lead to 14-11, with a victory slipping away from the England team. Toby Bradshaw displayed great stickability in a difficult play, but the clock ran down and with a quick succession of missed chances for the visitors, a final Penalty 2 from Tommy Biddle sealed the result with the score at 15-11 at the final buzzer.

Earning his fifth Townsend Cup title, Tommy Biddle Jr. was named Most Valuable Player, while the grey mare GC Wera, played by Pelon Escapite in the second and fourth chukkers and owned by Gabriel Crespo, was awarded Best Playing Pony.

Pictures by USPA/Richard Schmon