JAMAICA’S women kept their winning form intact by edging the USA 3-2 in a close second encounter of the second annual Tri-Nation International Ladies Polo Tournament on Tuesday at the Kingston Polo Club in St Catherine.

The Jamaicans, who defeated Zimbabwe 4 goals to 3 1/2 in the opening game on Sunday at the same venue, were again in fine fettle.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe downed the USA 4 1/2 goals to 3 in the third match of the series at Chukka Blue Polo Ranch in Sandy Bay, Hanover yesterday, thereby earning the right to meet Jamaica in the final at the St Ann Polo Club, Drax Hall tomorrow at 4:30 pm.

In yesterday’s do-or-die game, Zimbabwe jumped out first to lead the USA 3 1/2 to nil going into the third chukka.

However, the USA came alive in the third chukka and scored two goals to narrow the score to 3 1/2 to 2 going into the fourth and deciding chukka.

The USA scored a third goal to reduce the deficit to a 1/2 a goal, but with seconds remaining, Zimbabwe hit the winning goal to reach the final.

The USA have so far failed to win a match in the series and will play the ‘Battle Of The Sexes’ consolation opening match before the final.

If through rain Drax Hall is unfit to play the game, it will be shifted to the Kingston Polo Club in Kingston, it was agreed upon by the organisers.

The tour is jointly sponsored by ICWI, Toby’s Resort, Pegasus Hotel, Coyaba Beach Resort, Chukka Adventure Tours, Jewel & Time and Golden Kaan Wine.

Tuesday’s match was yet another closely-contested and exciting contest in which the USA team drew first blood. Florida-based Cecelia Cochran, backed up by some good mallet work from her teammates, sunk the first goal of the match in the opening chukka.

Local polo diva Lesley-Ann Masterton Fong-Yee then brought the local ladies even with a splendid goal in the second chukka. This was short-lived, however.

Tiffany Busch from Vero Beach, Florida converted a 60-yard penalty to restore parity to the USA ladies.

Both teams pushed hard in the third chukka — the USA to maintain their advantage and Jamaica to get on even terms — but the teams held firm.

The players marked each other with keen anticipation which at the end of the penultimate chukka left the score unchanged with the USA holding on to their narrow lead as neither team was allowed room to breach the uprights by scoring.

The final chukka belonged to the Jamaicans. Opening game lynchpin Rachel Turner found her range and came alive. She then tied up the game by carrying the ball through traffic with one of her mazy runs.

It was, however, Michelle Subaran who scored Jamaica’s first international goal as a women’s team player and who was playing a very progressive game all day and hit the winning goal.

This was after she had essayed a sweetly-timed cut shot from a telling Fong-Yee pass through the uprights to give Jamaica their second consecutive win to book a place in the final at the St Ann Polo Club, Drax Hall, tomorrow.