Newport and Casablanca to Meet in Fall Plates Final
WELLINGTON, FL, November 7, 2020— Newport edged out La Indiana by a score of 11-10 in overtime while Casablanca defeated Sebucan 10 – 8.
In the first match of the Fall Plates, Michael Bickford’s La Indiana (Michael Bickford, Jeff Hall, Mariano Gonzalez and Nick Manifold) faced off against Newport (Gene Goldstein, Sugar Erskine, Michel Dorignac and Juan Bollini). The first chukker saw three minutes of back and forth play before Sugar Erskine picked up a backshot from Gene Goldstein to put the first goal on the board. With 2:10 left in the chukker, Erskine scored again to end the Chukker 2-0 in favor of Newport.
Michel Dorignac brought the total up to 3 for Newport, but La Indiana fought back with Jeff Hall scoring two goals. Erskine found the posts again, while Gonzalez knocked one in for La Indiana to bring the score up to 3-4 with Newport ahead by just one goal. A successful shot on a penalty two by Michael Bickford tied the match up briefly, but Sugar Erskine, clearly having a great day on the field, put Newport back in the lead to end the half 5-4.
Despite Juan Bollini’s best efforts to thwart La Indiana following the bowl-in, a foul by Sugar Erskine gave La Indiana the chance to tie things up with a conversion by Michael Bickford. Another goal by Bickford plus one by Jeff Hall took the score to 7-5 for La Indiana. In the fifth chukker, Michel Dorignac converted on a penalty three and a penalty two to tie up the score at 7 all. Mariano Gonzalez took La Indiana up to 8, with Gene Goldstein following up to end the chukker in an 8-8 dead heat.
The pressure was on for both teams in the final chukker. Nick Manifold scored the first goal, and Mariano Gonzalez followed up with a breakaway that put La Indiana up by 2 at 10-8 with 3:48 to go. Newport dodged a bullet when Bickford failed to convert on a penalty three. Sugar Erskine carried the ball to goal with Michel Dorignac finishing the play to bring Newport within one. Following a penalty 5A at 26 seconds, Juan Bollini intercepted the loose ball and left it for Michel Dorignac, who cranked it down to Gene Goldstein a goal to send the game into overtime. After just under two minutes of overtime, Sugar Erskine picked up a back shot from Juan Bollini and put it through to win the match for Newport. Erskine was the high scoring player of the day with five goals.
In the second game of the Fall Plates, Sebucan (Gussie Busch, Pablo Pulido, Horacio Heguy, and Pablo Spinacci) took on Casablanca (Juancito Bollini, Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan, and Santi Bermudez). Both teams were rated at 15 goals.
Nic Roldan and Santi Bermudez put the first goals on the board for Casablanca, with Gussie Busch and Pablo Pulido following up to end Chukker One at 2 all. In a fast-moving second chukker, Pablo Spinacci made a long run to goal with 1:24 left in the chukker to break the tie. He scored again in the third chukker to put a fourth goal on the board for his team, with Pablo Pulido bringing Sebucan to five. Ganzi scored the final goal of the chukker, but Casablanca still lagged 3-5 at the half.
The pressure was on Casablanca as the second half got underway, but Nic Roldan came through with a goal to bring the score within one of Sebucan. Santi Bermudez tied the match at at 5 all, but a final goal by Horacio Heguy put Sebucan back in the lead. In the fifth chukker Nic Roldan turned the table in Casablanca’s favor with two consecutive goals, putting his team ahead by one. Gussie Busche tied it up briefly, but Grant Ganzi found the goal to end the chukker 8-7 for Casablanca. Horacio Heguy tied the score at 8-8, but two final shots by Roldan won the day for Casablanca. Roldan was the high scoring player, with five goals to his credit.
Although Grand Champions will be closed to spectators, ChukkerTV will livestream the entire 2020 polo series so fans can still enjoy the best polo the US has to offer. ChukkerTV was the first to introduce state-of-the-art live streaming technology and instant replay in January 2014 at Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida.
The Fall Plates 2020 Schedule
Sunday November 8, 2020
The Fall Plates Final
10 a.m. Newport vs Casablanca
Just For The Love Of It
11:45 a.m. La Indiana vs Sebucan
Games streamed live on www.chukkertv.com