ERG Wins big, Alegria upsets Valiente I
By Alex Webbe
ERG totally dominated La Ensenada in Saturday’s openingmatch of the day in competition for the USPA Piaget Gold Cup at theInternational Polo Club in Wellington as they romped to a 16-3 win.
ERG spotted the 25-goal La Ensenada team one goal byhandicap and wasted little time in tying it and taking the lead. Just over a minute into the game, Paco deNarvaez scored a goal from the field, 1-1, as the ERG assault began. Agustin Merlos converted two penalty goalsfor a 3-1 lead before Marcos Alberdi (substituting for team captain Scott Wood)took the ball from the ensuing throw-in and raced 150 yards down the field toscore. After the first seven minutes ofplay, ERG led 4-1.
Agustin Merlos added a goal from the field and converteda 60-yard penalty shot before La Ensenada could deliver any significantoffense. Matias Magrini scored on apenalty goal for La Ensenada but a goal from the field from Sebastian Merlos ona 180 yard breakaway, ended the second chukker with ERG in total control of a7-2 game.
Single goals from Agustin Merlos and his brotherSebastian Merlos went unanswered in the third period as ERG extended itslead. At the halfway point, ERG held acommanding seven goal, 9-2 advantage.
La Ensenada stepped up their game in the fourth, holdingERG scoreless for the first time all morning, but there was still no productiveoffense, and the score remained 9-2.
Sebastian added two more goals from the field and Alberdiadded another goal. La Ensenada wasblanked for the third consecutive chukker and trailed 12-2 with one chukkerleft in the game.
The Merlos brothers added two goals apiece in the sixthperiod to put ERG ahead, 16-2. With 1:29left in regulation time, Juab Garcia Grossi scored La Ensenada’s first goalfrom the field. The final horn soundedwith ERG recording a 16-3 win.
Agustin Merlos led ERG with seven goals. Sebastian Merlos was credited with sixgoals. Alberdi scored twice and deNarvaez scored once in the victory.
Magrini scored one goal on a penalty shot and teammateGrossi added a goal from the field. LaEnsenada received one goal by handicap.
ALEGRIA8, VALIENTE I 7
Valiente I scored the first three goal of the game beforeAlegria could respond but it would be Alegria that would ultimately ride offwith an 8-7 win after an injured Nacho Astrada (9) would leave the field.
Valiente I team captain Bob Jornayvaz scored the openinggoal of the game on a run from midfield just two-and-a-half minutes into thegame for the 1-0 lead. Miguel Astradaand Nacho Astrada added to the lead with single goals from the field to putValiente I in front, 3-0. Tomas GarciaDel Rio kept Alegria from being shut out with a beautifully executed 60-yardneck shot with three seconds on the clock. Valiente I took the early lead, 3-1.
A penalty conversion by Miguel Astrada in the secondchukker was countered by a goal from the field from Alegria’s MarianoAguerre. Valiente I continued to hold atwo goal lead, 4-2.
Two minutes into the third chukker, Valiente I’s nachoAstrada suffered an injury to his riding muscle and was forced to retire. After a 15 minute delay, Santiago Toccalino (8)was brought in to replace him and play resumed. A Valiente I foul sent Alegria to the penalty line where Del Rioconverted the shot for a goal. The firsthalf came to an end with Valiente I holding on to a narrow 4-3 lead.
As the second half opened, Alegria took advantage of theloss of Nacho Astrada by pressuring the Valiente I defense. A tying goal from Del Rio with two-and-a-halfminutes to play, 4-4, was followed by a go-ahead goal from Aguerre with 11seconds on the clock, 5-4.
The fifth period marked the third consecutive chukker inwhich Valiente I failed to score. Twogoals from Del Rio (one on a well-executed tail shot and another on a penaltyconversion) and a goal from Aguerre had the momentum continuing to build forAlegria. Valiente I trailed 8-4 with onechukker left in the game.
Valiente I continued to struggle through the first coupleof minutes of the sixth chukker before Miguel Astrada managed to score,8-5. A minute later it was Polito Piereswho split the goal posts for a second consecutive Valiente I goal. Aguerre struggled to control the ball andstem the growing Valiente I rally. AnAlegria penalty allowed Miguel Astrada the opportunity to attempt a 60-yardpenalty shot, which he converted, and the Alegria lead was cut to one goal,8-7. Both teams fought for control ofthe throw-in with neither having the clear upper hand. The clock continued to run as Valiente Ifought to create a scoring opportunity, after the 30 second horn sounded. An Alegria player drove the ball to thesideboards to end the game and deliver Alegria a much needed 8-7 win.
Del Rio and Aguerre scored four goals apiece on the day.
Miguel Astrada was credited with four goals for ValienteI (two on penalty conversions). NachoAstrada, Pieres and Jornayvaz scored single goals in the loss.