Team Jamaica top Team USA in charity polo match

The Jamaica Tourist Board’s (JTB) Team Jamaica, led by Kurt Chin, secured a narrow 9-7 victory for the second consecutive time against Appleton Team USA in a friendly international polo match at the Hanover Charities & Chukka Foundation annual polo event held at Chukka Adventures in Sandy Bay, Hanover, on Sunday.

Appleton Team USA’s John Wigdol opened the scoring early with a 70-yard field goal, giving his team the advantage. JTB Team Jamaica’s Fabiana Byles levelled the scores after a pass from Chin.

Kurt Chin then scored twice, following assists by his brother Shane Chin, to end the first chukka 3-1 in favour of Jamaica.

However, Team USA came roaring back in the second chukka as Wigdol scored a goal after a pass from Dan Keating. George Hempt then chipped in and made two 60-yard field goals, and this was followed by another goal from Wigdol as Team USA took the lead at 5-3. Jamaica’s Shane Chin responded by scoring twice as the half ended with the teams locked at 5-5.

An energetic Kurt Chin scored two early goals in the third chukka and the tough defence of Shane Chin, kept Team USA goalless.

With Team Jamaica leading 7-5 at the start of the final chukka Team USA came out strong. Byles quickly added to the tally and Team Jamaica led 8-5 but his strike was quickly answered by Team USA’s Wigdol.

With Team USA applying pressure, Kurt Chin, who was later named most valuable player, scored to put his team in control as the final bell rang to end the game 9-7.

Kurt Chin said the polo match was like a family affair.

“It was fun, we are doing it for charity. Newport (Team USA) have been coming here since 1995, so they are family and they come here every year. They wanted to win and we wanted to win but it’s still a friendly game. If they win, we are happy and if we win, they are happy. As long as the crowd enjoys the game and everyone comes out and supports Hanover Charities, then that is the aim,” Chin said.

“Our aim is to win again next year. Early in the game, the mindset was about settling down. If I have the ball, I have to think where to put the ball to my players and get everyone working as a team,” he added.

Team USA’s Keating said the game was amazing and an honour playing for charity.

“With the strength and depth of the Jamaica team, they were better than us and at some point, that team is going to be you. We had a couple bad bounces. We got the first goal and all of a sudden you get a feeling of confidence like you can do this. Then they came back and got two quick goals and we are like we are disorganised and needed to get ourselves together. Then in the second chukka we dominated and tied it up. It was every bit of an open thing. They got a couple goals in the third chukka and held the lead all the way to the fourth chukka and we just couldn’t turn the tide around,” Keating said.