Patagones and Zacara secure semifinal berths
By Alex Webbe
Patagones and Zacara scored wins Sunday afternoon in the Joe Barry Memorial Cup at the International Polo Club in Wellington to secure berths in Thursday’s semifinals.
Patagones scored its fourth consecutive win in 20-goal competition with an 11-10 victory over a determined Faraway Polo team in a match that was tied three times in the opening chukkers of play.
Long dashes up and down the field set the tone for the day as Gonzalo Avendano scored the opening two goals of the game to give Patagones a 2-0 lead. Julian Daniels got Faraway on the scoreboard, but a penalty gave Patagones a penalty shot that Carlos Avendano converted for a 3-1 advantage.
Faraway rallied with two quick goals from Pelon Escapite and Julio Arellano to knot the game at 3-3 at the end of the first chukker.
The pace quickened in the second period with Carlos Gracida scoring the first goal for Patagones. Arellano answered with a goal from the field. Julio Gracida converted a penalty shot for a goal and Arellano closed the chukker with his third goal of the game and a 5-5 tie.
Carlos Gracida scored twice to put Patagones up 7-5 in the third chukker with a penalty conversion by Arellano closing out the first half trailing 7-6.
“They’re a good team,†said Arellano, “it helps that they’ve played together so long.â€
This same Patagones team traveled to Santa Barbara this summer to compete in a series of 20-goal tournaments, winning the Bob Skene Trophy. Recently, Patagones captured the season-opening Iglehart Cup at the International Polo Club.
Throughout the duration of the final three chukkers of play, Faraway could come no closer than to within a goal of Patagones, and trailed by two goals with less than six seconds on the clock in the final chukker. Arellano scored his seventh goal of the game on a closing penalty shot, and Patagones left with an 11-10 win.
Julio Gracida led the Patagones attack with four goals. Gonzalo Avendano and Carlos Gracida scored three times apiece and Carlos Avendano converted a penalty shot in the win.
Gonzalo Avendano took double honors in the game, being named MVP and having his horse, Pancho, named Best Playing Pony.
ZACARA 15, Mt. Brilliant 11
In other tournament action, Zacara continued to show its firepower as it blew out a talented Mt. Brilliant team 15-11 to secure a place in Thursday’s semifinals of the Joe Barry Memorial Cup.
Led by Jeff Hall’s eight goals, Zacara coasted to a 15-11 win after charging out to a commanding 10-6 halftime lead.
“Zacara just blew them right out of the water,†said Isla Carroll 6-goaler Kris Kampsen after the match, “it was all Zacara.â€
Zacara fell behind 6-5 after the first two chukkers with Santiago Chavanne scoring four goals fro Mt. Brilliant, but an explosive third period saw Zacara collect five goals while shutting out the Mt. Brilliant attack.
Zacara led 12-8 after the fourth period and were down 15-9 after the fifth. Mt. Brilliant got single goals from Marianito Obregon and Chavanne in the sixth, but the game had already been decided.
Hall scored four of his eight goals on penalty shots for Zacara. Gonzalo del Tour added five goals from the field and Toto Collardin scored twice.
Tournament competition in the Joe Barry Memorial Cup continues this morning with an 11 am match between Lucchese (1-0) and the Hawks (1-0).