The HM Army Reserves polo team returned to the Island on September 11 and 12 to play two matches against the Triskelion Polo Club. The HM Army Reserves team comprised established polo players in reservist regiments based throughout the UK. The team for the Saturday match was Lieutenant Colonel Matt Petersen, Colonel Simon Goldstein, Trooper Mark Selway, and Officer Cadet Rishi Aluwalia. Local player Sam Egan completed the Army Reserves line up on the Friday leg of the fixture in the place of Officer Cadet Aluwalia. The Triskelion Polo Club line-up for both matches was Maddie Bridle, Graham Dimelow, Becky Netten, and professional polo player and coach Cameron Houston. Both matches were played at the Triskelion Polo Grounds on the Great Meadow estate just outside Castletown and featured four chukkas each lasting seven minutes.

In Friday’s match, Selway put the Army Reserves in front in the first half, and in the second period Houston equalised with a superb penalty struck from 20 yards inside his own half. Selway then put his team back in front with a long range penalty from 70 yards. In the final quarter Houston made it all square again and the match ended 2-2.

Saturday’s match began with a flurry of attacks by HM Army Reserves and they scored three times in the first quarter to take the aggregate score to 5-2. Triskelion changed tactics and fought back well. Attacking play from both sides meant the scoreboard continued to tick over for both sides, and going into the last quarter the Army Reserves led 7-5 on aggregate.

Another change in tactics saw Triskelion hold the ball a lot more and slow the tempo of the game allowing them to retain possession. Great blocking by Becky Netten, and fake passing runs from Graham Dimelow and Maddie Bridle, created a good amount of space for Houston to dribble through midfield, scoring two goals to bring the game level at 7-7. An excellent run from the lineout by Aluwalia saw him slip past two markers and finish to bring make the score 8-7. The home side knew the time was ticking as their comeback had been knocked off track, but from the following restart it was the Army Reserves who fouled giving the home team a spot penalty just inside halfway. The time was checked and with 50 seconds left on the clock, Houston, riding club favourite Sargento, dribbled the ball forward, Netten blocked Aluwalia, while Dimelow and Bridle made runs to goal drawing the remaining players. Houston dribbled to 60 yards out through the Army pack with Sargento making it easy, and he shot at goal. An incredible block by Selway left him in possession in his own goalmouth and it was Bridle who made the critical steal and knocked the ball in to the goal in the last few seconds to leave the final aggregate score at 8-8.

This was the second time that the HM Army Reserves team has visited the Isle of Man. In February this year they played against Triskelion Polo Club in what were the very first competitive polo matches ever held on the Island. The British Army are setting up a Reserve Force in Douglas – the 4 LANCS Army Reserve battalion – and had a recruiting team at the polo match with a couple of the serving members of the new Reserve Force. The Isle of Man Reserve Force will consist of infantry, engineers, artillery, medics and other staff. The polo team had three Reservists and a Reservist who is now an Officer Cadet at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst training to be a regular officer.

Triskelion polo club will be hosting lessons, practices and matches at the high quality arena facilities at Grenaby Estate Equestrian Centre in the coming months. Alongside this, they will run a winter league in which weekend matches will be played on Port Erin beach. Spectators will be welcomed to what should be a very entertaining league. Details for all upcoming events will be available shortly at www.triskelionpolo.club

Action from the matches on September 11 and 12 between HM Army Reserves and Triskelion Polo Club. Photo by Elaine Dewhirst.