Australia's Matthew Oleiry (left) and Kingston Polo Club's female player Lesley Fong-Yee make close contact as they jostle for the ball, during the third and final match of the Virgin Atlantic 25th anniversary polo series at the Kingston Polo Club, Caymanas Estates, on Sunday. The Australians won 18-14 to sweep the series. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Thrills and spills were the order of the day in the arena as the visiting Australian team completed a three-match sweep of local teams in the Virgin Atlantic 25th anniversary series, which ended on Sunday at the Kingston Polo Club, Caymanas Estates.

Due to a waterlogged field, resulting from overnight rain, the match between the Australians and a strong Kingston Polo Club team, Coca Cola, had to be switched from the lush green polo ground to the much smaller show-jumping arena adjacent to the field.

Despite the change, it turned out to be a high-scoring game which saw the Australians winning by 18 goals to 14 after eight chukkas.

This was the first time that polo was being played in the sand-based facility and it was different in many aspects. The limited space brought out the best in horsemanship from both teams, each having a rotation of five players.

Good support

The Australian team comprised Richard Rawlings (captain), Matthew Oleiry, Dick Doolin, Ric McCarthy and rookie player Hugh Evans. Rawlings, a four-goal handicapper, led the scoring with seven goals, while Oleiry and Doolin offered good support with three and two goals, respectively.

Kingston Polo Cub was represented by Mark Wates, Paul Lalor, Lesley Fong-Yee, Peter Barrow as well as Mining and Energy Minister, James Robertson.

Although the Australians looked more physically adept, the Jamaicans held their own to level the scores 13-13 in the sixth chukka. However, their hopes faded when the Australians scored three unanswered goals and added another in the final chukka to seal the issue.

Robertson, who played well, led the scoring for Kingston Polo Club with five goals, Lalor got four, Wates three and birthday girl Fong-Yee, Jamaica's top female player, two.

Rawlings said the Jamaicans proved highly competitive in what was a rough and tumble game, which saw two Australians falling from their mounts.

Mud puddles

"We are not used to playing in the sand and the mud puddles made the ball difficult to control," said Rawlings. "But we had to adapt and gave as much as we got in what was a physically demanding game. I must say we got some really nice horses and all in all we had a great time in Jamaica. The hospitality was second to none and we will leave with some fond memories."

Robertson said playing in the arena for the first time was a unique experience.

"It was not easy to adapt to the sand. The ball moved differently and because of the limited space, the action was always close.

"I thought we matched up to them pretty well when our three best players were on the field. The scores were level in the sixth chukka, but we let the match slip away in the seventh," he explained.

In their two previous matches, the Australians clipped Chukka Blue 7-6 at Sandy Bay in Hanover on April 26, thanks to four goals from Doolin. They also beat a St Ann Polo Club team 7-6 in the second match at Drax Hall last Thursday, with Rawlings scoring five.

Marina, owned by Robertson, was adjudged the best playing pony.