Picture perfect weather was the order of the day when the 2011 Polo season officially got underway at the Clifton Polo Grounds in St Thomas on Friday afternoon.
In the first match of the Citizens Bank-sponsored six-goal tournament, Team Mercedes were off to a flyer in thrashing Apes Hill II 11 goals to 5 ½.
Philip Tempro was in tremendous form, scoring seven of his team’s 11 goals – three in the second and third chukkas.
Danny Atwell, not to be left out, continued his fine form from last season with four goals in the match, three coming in the first chukka.
The second match of the afternoon provided the small crowd with non-stop action from the opening horn.
 In the end, the Citizens Bank team led by Bruce Bayley edged the FirstCaribbean International Bank team led by Teddy Williams 6-5 1/2.
It was a keenly contested affair with the teams matching each other goal for goal in each of the first three chukkas.
However, the outstanding performance of Oliver Taylor of Citizens Bank proved to be decisive. A thorn in the flesh of FirstCaribbean, he accounted for all six of his team’s goals.
Williams and his team fought gallantly until the end, but Taylor had the final say with the only goal of the final chukka. (CH)
