England have lost the Standard Bank Polo Test Match at Val de Vie. On Saturday 15 November, South Africa beat them 8-6 in a 16-goal international in Paarl, sealing the win in the final chukka with a determined defensive effort.
The match
The home side was led by Jannie Steenkamp, and the Val de Vie estate says the captain anchored the win in the last chukka. England’s captain, Matt Perry, was named Most Valued Player, which was a fine reward for a player who had returned from injury earlier this year. The best playing pony was Bubbles, owned by South African player Dane Csaszar, who was praised for the horse’s agility and rapport with its rider.
- South Africa: Dane Csaszar, Jannie Steenkamp (captain), Marek Kanigowski and Alex Watson, all rated 4 goals.
- England: Matt Perry (captain), Tom Brodie, Marcus Cork and Robbie Slatter, who made his senior debut.
It was a defeat, but the margin was narrow. About 2,000 guests watched the match, which was the first international polo in the Western Cape in 15 years.
What comes next for England
The HPA has not yet announced the team for England’s final fixture of the year against South Africa at Plettenberg Bay, so we will report on that when we know the line-up. The Arena International at Hickstead on 17 January 2026, against the USA, is the next big date for the home calendar.
Palermo moves on
In Argentina, the Argentine Open reached its third weekend on Saturday. La Natividad La Dolfina beat Los Machitos El Refugio 18-6 on Field 1, their ninth consecutive win of the season, and they lead Zone A. La Zeta Kazak beat Sol de Agosto 16-11, a result that secured Los Machitos El Refugio a place in the 2026 Triple Crown.
La Natividad La Dolfina’s last Zone A match, against UAE Polo, is due in about two weeks and will decide who goes to the final. It was a cracking weekend for polo on two continents. England will want to put the Val de Vie result behind them, and Palermo is only getting started.
Sources: Val de Vie, South Africa claims victory over England, La Nación, Abierto de Palermo
