White Birch handles Certified, 8–6, at Bridgehampton

White Birch handles Certified, 8-6, at Bridgehampton

By Alex Webbe

White Birch took control of the game early and charged off to an 8-6 win over Certified in opening round play of the 2011 Hampton Cup at the Bridgehampton Polo Club on Long Island Sunday afternoon.


Tomas Garcia Del Rio scored the first goal of the game for Certified, but White Birch retaliated with a scoring binge that would net them five straight goals.


Mariano Aguerre tied the game at 1-1 to end the first period before setting the White Birch offense loose in the second chukker.  Fred Mannix reeled off three consecutive penalty shots before allowing Aguerre to step up to the penalty line and convert a 60-yarder that would end the second chukker with White Birch commanding a 5-1 lead.


Mannix scored his fourth penalty goal of the match to open the third chukker.  Marcos Garcia Del Rio stopped the bleeding by scoring a goal from the field for Certified, but Mannix responded with a field goal of his own for an impressive 7-2 halftime advantage.


Fourth chukker goals from Certified team captain Michael Borrico and Marcos Garcia Del Rio were complimented by shutout defense.   The two goals went unanswered but still had White Birch holding on to a comfortable 7-4 edge.


Whatever offense Certified displayed in the fourth chukker abandoned them in the fifth, with Mariano Aguerre’s single goal from the field accounting for the only score.  With one chukker left to play, White Birch seemed well in control of an 8-4 game.


Certified attempted to rally the troops in the final minutes of the game, but White Birch controlled the pace.  A penalty goal from Tomas Garcia Del Rio and a goal from the field were tallied by the Certified team as White Birch took home the 8-6 victory.


Mannix led all scoring with five goals.  Aguerre scored twice and Gracida added a goal in the win.


Marcos Garcia Del Rio and his brother Tomas Garcia Del Rio scored two goals apiece for Certified.  Snow and Borrico scored single goals in the loss.


Hampton Cup competition will continue with a Tuesday afternoon with a 5PM match between Equuleus (1-0) and Heathcote (1-0).