PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Rocksteady emerged victorious over Madalas in a heart-stopping four-goal final in the Genesis Cup, held on Monday, 2 December, at the Rhone Hill Polo Club in Plettenberg Bay.
The match, which ended in a dramatic 6-6 tie after the fourth chukka (seven minutes), saw Rocksteady clinch the win by scoring a golden goal during extra time.
Fans came out in their numbers to witness one of the oldest team sports, also known as "the game of kings", that dates back over 2 000 years.
Early fireworks: Madalas' dominance
The first chukka was full of exhilaration, with both teams showing aggression and intent from the start.
Madalas, however, quickly asserted their dominance with a dazzling display of speed and precision, scoring two goals within a minute to announce their serious intentions.
These early goals, though, turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Rocksteady, who were forced into a chasing role from the very beginning.
Madalas (green), competing for the ball.
Madalas continued their aggressive play and clinical passing, opening up a four goals to one lead as they exploited Rocksteady's shaky defence.
However, despite the early setbacks, Rocksteady remained composed and gradually started to gain a foothold in the game, beginning their rally.
Rocksteady's resurgence
By the third chukka, Rocksteady had found their rhythm with improved coordination and sharp mallet work.
They began to close the gap, cutting Madalas' lead to just one goal at the end of the chukka, with the score at 5-4.
The game was now on a knife's edge, and it was clear that the final chukka would be a battle for the spoils of war.
Final chukka drama
After the final chukka started, the game could have gone either way. The match's tempo quickened as the players traded blows, with each team gaining and losing possession at a dizzying pace.
The crowd could feel the intensity rise as players pushed their horses to their limit, galloping at full speed to attain possession.
Madalas appeared to be on the brink of victory after seizing a loose ball and executing a spectacular goal that seemed to secure a win.
The Rocksteady supporters, who had been hopeful throughout, were momentarily deflated, fearing that their team's valiant fight was about to end in disappointment.
But in true resilient fashion, Rocksteady refused to let the pressure get to them.
They responded with a long-range effort, scoring an incredible goal to tie the match at 6-6, sending it into extra time.
Golden goal glory
Rocksteady, riding the wave of their momentum, earned a penalty, which they converted with surgical precision, sending the ball soaring through the poles to seal a thrilling victory.
The crowd erupted into cheers as Rocksteady triumphed after a sensational comeback.
Both teams exhibited superb horsemanship and skill throughout the match, making it one of the most exciting games in the tournament.
Mike Griffith, captain of Rocksteady, said after the match that his team's strategy proved vital in securing victory at the end. "Even when we were down, we never panicked or got angry at each other.
"We just stuck with our gameplan and with momentum on our side, we managed to pull through," he said.
Earlier in the day, Alistair defeated Rhone Hill in the 10-goal final, dominating the match to seal a commanding 9-3½ victory.
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