Dennis Lalor (left), chairman of ICWI, presents the ICWI Championship Trophy to Sunny Hale, the number one-ranked polo player in the world and captain of the victorious Road Angels women's polo team, which defeated Road Eagles 8-5 in the final at the Caymanas Polo Club on Sunday. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Led by four goals from the world's number one female player Sunny Hale, defending champions Road Angels defeated Road Eagles 8-5 to win the 18th annual ICWI International Women's Polo Tournament before a large crowd at the Kingston Polo Club, Caymanas Estates, on Sunday.

Hale, the winning captain and Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the final, led from in front, the West Palm Beach (Florida) professional not only scoring most goals, but assisting in the first by fellow American, Karen Reese.

In the opening minutes, Reese flicked in a field goal on a good pass from Hale. Road Angels quickly raced into a 3-0 lead before the end of the first chukka, thanks to another field goal from the Zimbabwean Sherri-Lyn Hensman and a third from Hale, who converted from a goal-front melee.

Intense battle

In the dying stages of the first chukka, top local player Lesley Fong-Yee pulled back a goal resulting from a 30-yard penalty, followed by a 60-yard penalty at the beginning of the second chukka to make it 3-2.

Both teams battled intensely with some good horsemanship and exciting stick play, but it was Road Angels who asserted their authority once again, with Hale scoring a 30-yard penalty and Hensman following up with a clever forearm rally from close in to make it 5-2 at the end of the second chukka.

Happy with victory

Thereafter, Eagles tried desperately to measure up to their opponents, with Fong-Yee, Fiona Seagar, Angela York and Kristy Outhier turning up the heat, the latter carrying the ball down the field in a magnificent solo effort to make it 5-3. But two more goals from Hale in the closing minutes and one from Erica Gandomcar ensured that Road Angels would retain the ICWI Trophy in fine style.

In addition to Hale, Hensman scored two goals, while Gandomcar and Reese flicked in one apiece. For the losers, Fong-Yee and Outhier scored two each and York one.

Hale was delighted with the victory and attributed it to a dream start.

"It was important to take the initiative from early and after racing to a 3-0 lead before the end of the first chukka, the pressure was always on our opponents to catch up.

"Still, I thought it was an exciting match which provided lots of thrills for the large crowd. Road Eagles rebounded early in the second half, but we sealed the issue with two more goals by the end of the second chukka and I have nothing but praise for my teammates," explained Hale, who added that the standard of play was world class and the horses were fantastic.

Losing captain Fong-Yee said it was an action-packed game but "I thought our team started out too slowly and were surprised in the first chukka. We tried to rally, but Road Angels were the better team today.

Exhibition match

"This is in fact one of the highest scoring games we have had in the 18 years of the tournament," said Fong-Yee, who has played every year since its inception.

Meanwhile, in an exhibition match prior to the final, a select men's team beat the women by a goal. The game was tied up close to the end, when Jason Wates hit the winner for a 4-3 scoreline. Wates actually scored three goals, while Jolie Liston from Atlanta, Georgia, scored two penalties and Anna Dougal got a field goal.

On Saturday at the St. Ann Polo Club in Drax Hall, Separate men's team, led by the brothers Paul and Kurt Chin, won the 'battle of the sexes' matches against Road Angels and Road Eagles by one goal and two goals, respectively. Both matches were keenly contested and were tied until midway the last chukka.

- O. C.