Enigmasurprises Dubai in 10-9 win; Black Bears drub La Bamba de Areco
ByAlex Webbe
Playing with Tommy Beresford in place of patron JeromeWirth, and Brad Mallett in place of the injured Charlie Hanbury, Enigma (TommyBeresford, Brad Mallett, Guillermo Willington and Sapo Caset) took the leadearly and held it through the first half, leading 6-5 at the end of the firstthree chukkers at England’s Cowdray Park Polo Club.
Understanding that Dubai has already qualified for thetournament quarterfinals, one might wonder if Cambiaso and company weren’t justsaving horses.
In a slow start, Enigma scored the only goal of the firstchukker for the 1-1 lead. Dubai playedtentatively and with a lack of passion in the early goings.
The rhythm picked up for both teams in the second. Dubai started to look like they arrived toplay, scoring three times. Enigmamanaged two goals, however, as the teams were all even at 3-3 at the end of thesecond chukker.
Enigma outscored Dubai 3-2 in the third period, markingthe second time in three chukkers the 1-2 team outscored undefeated Dubai (3-0). Enigma led at the end of the first half, 6-5.
Enigma continued to outplay the Dubai foursome, scoringthe only goal of the fourth chukker. With two periods left in regulation time, Enigma extended its lead to twogoals, 7-5 over Dubai.
As if to confirm their superiority, Adolfo Cambiaso andNico Pieres led the Dubai rally in the fifth. Consecutive goals tied the game at 7-7, but Enigma wasn’t ready toconcede the fact. Consecutive goals hadthem back in the lead, 9-7. Dubai scoredthe final goal of the fifth period but trailed by a gal, 9-8, going into thefinal chukker.
The two teams exchanged goals in the early goings of thesixth chukker with Enigma holding on to their one goal lead, 10-9, to recordtheir second win of the tournament (2-2). The loss was Dubai’s first as they take their 3-1 record into thequarterfinals (quarterfinal matchups to be announced after July 11).
BLACKBEARS 15, LA BAMBA DE ARECO 10
In a contest to decide the eighth quarterfinalist in the2013 Veuve Clicquot British Open for the gold Cup, Guy Schwarzenbach’s BlackBears (Guy Schwarzenbach, Nachi du Plessis, John Paul Clarkin and PatrickO’Dwyer) would meet La Bamba de Areco (Jean Francois Decaux, Polito Pieres,Gonzalito Pieres and Ollie Cudmore) at Manor Farm.
La Bamba de Areco would score the first goal of the game,but Black Bears responded with a goal of their own to tie it up at 1-1. S second Black Bears goal would end thechukker with La Bamba de Areco trailing, 2-1.
La Bamba de Areco charged back with a pair of goals inthe second chukker to move ahead, 3-2. Black Bears responded with a tying goal, 3-3 to end the period.
Back Bears scored the opening goal of the third chukkerfor 4-3 advantage. La Bamba de Areco answered back to lock it upat 4-4. The Black Bears scored the finalgoal of the first half to take a 5-4 halftime lead.
The two teams exchanged goals in the opening minutes ofthe fourth chukker, 6-5. Threeconsecutive goals extended the Black Bears lead to four goals, 9-5, withneither Gonzalito Pieres nor Polito Pieres being able to stop theonslaught. La Bamba de Areco scored thefinal gal of the chukker but trailed the Black Bears by three goals, 9-6, withtwo periods left to play.
La Bamba de Areco got on the scoreboard first in thefifth chukker, cutting the black Bears lead back to two goals, 9-7. Two more goals quickly tied it at 9-9, with LaBamba de Areco making a move. The BlackBears stopped the bleeding, and then some. John Paul Clarkin and Nachi du Plessis fueled a comeback that nettedthem four goals, ending the chukker on top of a 13-9 score.
La Bamba de Areco scored first in the final chukker, butthe Black Bears responded with the last two goals of the game in their 15-10win. A shoot-out elimination in thebracket has been indicated to decide the eighth quarterfinalist of thetournament.
British Open play continues on Tuesday, July 9 with ElRemanso (3-0) facing Lucchese (1-2) at noon followed by a 3PM contest betweenEmlor (0-3) and UAE (2-1).