USPC at the World Cup - Game 2

The final score at the end of game 2 was Northern Ireland 12 - USA 11.

The official write-up is below.

Pony Club - Northern Ireland vs USA
In the last game of the day the USA scored in the first 15 seconds, and great goal from Nick Balogh. Effective work from his defence in brother Peter and number 3 Katherine Hanagan cleared the way for him to put away two more before NI's Emily McCleane grabbed one back with a big overarm. Going into the second chukka NI began to put the pressure on with sisters Lizzy and Rachael Graham's strong defence. Their number 1 William Armstrong proceeded to hunt the ball on his nippy pony, scoring three to pull level and then take the lead. By the third chukka both number 3s were firing away, keping the ball moving from end to end as each team struggled to score. USA brought things level again before Emily McCleane's fantastic little chestnut pony pulled up lame and she was replaced by Nial Auret. The USA took their opportunity and put away two more goals to move the score to 7-5 in their favour. Now NI had some ground to make up, and a blistering run down the field by William Armstrong brought the score to 7-6, followed by a goal on the board against the USA that again equalised the score. During the fifth chukka NI's Nial Auret gave the crowd the run of the day, streaking down the pitch with the USA in hot pursuit, catching the bounce at an impossible speed and then shooting for goal almost in one movement. To the crowd's dismay he missed the shot, but it had been an eye-opening move that got the crowds cheering as the game came into it's final chukkas. Meanwhile, USA's Nick Balogh continued to have a very good game, scoring four more to again bring the USA up front. In the final chukka NI were two goals down, but if there was a section to pull it back it was William Armstrong and the Graham sisters. Brilliant teamwork, pickups and ball retrieval gave NI the three goals they needed to win the game 12-11, at the end of what had been a fabulous display of polocrosse from these young teams.