ERG tops Lechuza; Bendabout holds on for win in Ylvisaker Cup play
ERG improved its record to 2-1 Sunday afternoon as the team handed Lechuza Caracas a 10-8 loss in Ylvisaker Cup competition at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
Lechuza was making only its second appearance of the 2011 season and didn’t seem to have all the kinks worked out as a hard-charging ERG offense led ERG to a 7-2 halftime lead before riding off with a 10-8 win.
Lechuza’s Gaston Lisioli scored the first goal of the game on a penalty shot followed by a pair of goals from ERG’s Paco de Narvaez in a first chukker that had both teams trying to get some kind of rhythm going.
De Narvaez added a goal from the field in the second period followed by a penalty conversion by Lechuza’s Toto Collardin. Jason Crowder closed out the second frame with a penalty goal and ERG took a 4-2 lead.
ERG poured it on in the third both offensively and defensively. Consecutive goals from Santi Torres, Crowder and de Narvaez were combined with shutout defense that had ERG taking a commanding 7-2 lead to the sidelines with them at the end of the first half.
De Narvaez put ERG up, 8-2 with his fifth goal of the game in the fourth, but Lechuza came back with a 60-yard penalty conversion from Lisioli and a goal from the field from Collardin. ERG continued to control the game, but Lechuza was trying to inch its way back into contention. ERG continued to lead, 8-4.
Both defenses tightened in the fifth, as ERG and Lechuza traded penalty goals. Lisioli converted for Lechuza while team captain Scott Wood made good for ERG. With five chukkers gone, ERG continued to lead 9-5.
Crowder’s third penalty goal of the game in the sixth had ERG ahead 10-5, but Lechuza wasn’t ready to roll over yet. Vargas scored his first goal of the game followed by a pair of goals from Lisioli. Lechuza had cut the lead to two goals, 10-8 and were pressing its attack, as time ran out.
The ERG 10-8 victory improved the team record to 2-1, and kept them in contention for the cup. The loss was the second in a row for Lechuza and keeps it winless at 0-2.
BENDABOUT 15, ZACARA 13
In earlier Ylvisaker cup action, Gillian Johnston and Chris Nevins combined for 11 of the team’s 15 goals as they rolled over a game but out-gunned Zacara team 15-13
Bendabout scored its first three goals of the game, getting a pair from Nevins and a single goal from team captain Gillian Johnston.
Jeff Blake answered with a penalty goal for Zacara as Bendabout took an early 3-1 lead.
Three more second chukker goals from Bendabout had the team buzzing. Johnston added two more goals and Nevins chipped in his third goal of the game as Bendabout extended its lead to 6-2. Gonzalo Del Tour accounted for Zacara’s only goal of the chukker.
Blake got Zacara going in the third, scoring three times. Teammate Mariano Uranga added a goal as Zacara cut the lead to two goals, 8-6 to end the first half. Lucas Criado scored twice for Bendabout in the chukker.
Bendabout regrouped and returned to the field in the fourth on a mission. A penalty conversion from Inaki Laprida and goals from the field from Nevins and Johnston were supported by lights out defense had Bendabout on top of an 11-6 score.
A re-energized Zacara team took to the field in the fifth. After a pair of goals from Nevins extended the Bendabout lead to 13-6, Zacara went on a tear.
Zacara rattled off five consecutive goals, getting three from Del Tour and single goals from Uranga and Blake. The lead had been cut to only two goals, 13-11, and Zacara had gained the momentum.
Johnston’s fifth goal of the game was countered by a penalty goal from Blake, and the score stood at 14-12, Bendabout. Criado added another goal to the Bendabout total, with Del Tour scoring the final goal of the match on a penalty shot.
Bendabout rode off the field with the 15-13 victory and a 1-1 record.
Ylvisaker Cup competition will continue on Wednesday, February 9 when Faraway (1-2) will meet Patagones (1-1) at 1 pm followed by a 3pm showdown between Mt. Brilliant (1-1) and Valiente (0-2).