New Zealand and Zambia met in the 3rd / 4th Play off at the Ignition Polocrosse World Cup and delivered up an incredible warm up act for the World Cup final itself in a match that went all the way to the wire.

Zambia had been quite favoured for a place in the final before the World Cup started but had not managed to turn it on when it mattered most. Rumours swirled that a number of their squad were suffering with a fairly terrible sickness bug, leading in some cases to trips to the hospital. Their luck definitely seemed to be out at points and they had not shown what they were capable of against the likes of Australia and South Africa. New Zealand, on the other hand, were having one of their best World Cups in years. Their young squad had not been highly favoured going into the tournament, with many thinking it would not be till the next World Cup that a number of these players really hit their stride. However, they were keen to not wait till then and had battled their way through a tough group to make the semi finals, where, admittedly, Australia did slightly carve them apart but that was both expected and some suggested deliberate as they wanted to save themselves and their horses for this match.

Going into the match it was hard to pick a winner but Zambia probably had the majority of the crowd behind them. African nations are quite loyal to each other and the South African and Zimbabwean cheer squads swung behind their Zambian friends, along with many from countries like the UK, Ireland and USA who will often consider Zambia their favourite southern hemisphere team. However, New Zealand didn’t seem particularly bothered if the crowd was not fully behind them. Their ladies section, particularly Mirren Tye, had looked particularly impressive throughout the competition and they started brightly against a Zambian ladies section, which is considered one of the best in the world but hadn’t managed to hit their highest standards in every game at the World Cup. However, both sides missed a couple of chances in the opening chukka and it ended 3-2 to New Zealand.

Chukka two saw New Zealand stay ahead by 6 goals to 5 as the men traded goals. However it also saw New Zealand have to substitute off their captain Jack Kinder towards the end of the chukka due to a painful knock. The Zambian Ladies then just outcompeted New Zealand in Chukka 3 to level it up at 9 all. They lead by more during the chukka after Kelly Krynauw had fired through some fast goals but New Zealand pulled it back at the end, with Kayla Murray winning ball out the back and Mirren Tye duly firing the ball through the goal posts.

The next men’s chukka saw ten goals in total but New Zealand were getting the better of the Zambia men and at the end the scoreline read 15-13. Jack Kinder was back on the field in the number 1 shirt, in the place of Jarrod Richardson, and Kinder fired through some great quick goals. Zambia had also made a change at number 1 with Andrew Hall coming on for Mikey Krynauw, who had so far not missed a chukka all World Cup. Damien Harris, who had not been as visible in this world cup as was expected, won more ball out the back for Zambia to keep them in touch but Ty Murray pulled in the pick up of the chukka, nearly coming off his horse as he reached and twisted to get the ball on his off side.

Chukka five saw another number 1 switch with Kelly Krynauw getting a rest and Audrey Logan taking over the goal scoring duties for the Zambia Ladies. New Zealand grabbed the first goal of the chukka through some good work through Mirren Tye and then they got even further ahead after Melissa Marlow and Kayla Murray combined to set up Tye again. Zambia did after that get three unanswered goals to get the better of New Zealand in the chukka overall and close the gap again but New Zealand still lead 17-16 at the end of the chukka.

Chukka six was a fairly action packed affair between two men’s section. New Zealand put Jarrod Richardson back up front and he got them two early goals to stretch their lead to three goals. Zambia still had the youngster Andrew Hall up front, though there was a suggestion that had been due to a last minute issue with Mikey Krynauw’s horse forcing Zambia to send on their impact player. Hall missed a couple of chances as the chukka got a bit scrappy but then New Zealand were also guilty of giving away ball cheaply, after their number 3 Ty Murray tried backwards pass that went to ground and Andrew Hall benefitted through a goal. Ty Murray has not looked afraid of playing quite physically during the World Cup and he put in a big illegal ride off on Andrew Hall over the thirty yard line which resulted in a free shot at goal and another Zambian goal. Zambia were bringing it back and New Zealand were starting to lose their heads a bit. Thankfully for New Zealand they had the wise old head (well, relatively old compared with the rest of their team) of Jarrod Richardson and he calmed down Ty Murray and then grabbed a ball and scored a goal to get them back ahead by 20-18 at the end of the chukka.

Chukka seven would be the last chance for the ladies to show what they could do, unless it went to golden goal. Zambia sent Kelly Krynauw back out aboard the pony Essence, who has looked brilliant for her all week. Lauren Summers in the Zambian number 3 shirt had a great last chukka, intercepting ball in the area and winning it in midfield to set up a couple of goals for Zambia. However New Zealand outscored them three goals to two in the chukka, with Kayla Murray again winning ball and Mirren Tye, who was aboard the wonderful French Kiss, slotting through the goals.

So with a scoreline reading 23-20 the men came out to do battle for the last time. Zambia sent out the imposing figure of Mikey Krynauw in the number 1 shirt for the final chukka, while New Zealand reverted to Jack Kinder at the front, perhaps thinking that on the evidence of chukka 4 they would at least defend a three goal lead and perhaps extend it. However, they had not counted on a refreshed and rested Mikey Krynauw putting on a final chukka master class. He got the opening goal after New Zealand wasted a chance to extend their lead and then the long arms went to work at the front of the line up, snapping a ball off the front while Kinder swatted at Krynauw’s racquet but was unable to stop him. When Krynauw didn’t grab it at the front he won it off the floor and once he had ball there was no stopping him. To the area he went each time and despite ongoing strong pressure from Ty Murray he slotted the goals. Four goals flew from his racquet but New Zealand did grab one ball and one goal and the scoreline read 24 all. The six players lined up again on the umpire Patrick O’Sullivan, a man who has had some slightly controversial moments with line ups in this world cup. The ball was thrown in and Krynauw duly snapped it. Kinder threw everything at him, stretching racquet and arm fully across his torso in an attempt to stop him riding forwards. The crowd shouted for the foul but the umpire did not seemed convinced that this action warrented using his whistle. Krynauw waited a second for the whistle that did not come and then duly rode on and headed to the area to score another goal and put Zambia ahead 25-24, the first time they had led since they briefly held a 2-1 lead in the opening chukka. There was time for one more line up, was there time for New Zealand to get an equaliser. This time the ball made it past the number 1’s but Damien Harris was quickest to win it out the back and once it was in his racquet there was no way New Zealand were getting it back. He passed it to Krynauw who ran down the clock and Zambia could celebrate what looked at points like a slightly unexpected third place finish.

Mikey Krynauw duly picked up best mens player in the match for his two chukka heroics, while Mirren Tye, who had been oustanding in the New Zealand number 1 shirt all week, won best ladies player. She would later go on to win best overall ladies number 1 in the World Cup and French Kiss, who was one of her most used horses, would win best ladies horse.