Hall of Fame Cup: Black Watch vs. Pony Express


 Pony Express Wins Hall of Fame Cup


By Alex Webbe


 


The Black Watch Polo Team suffered its third one-goal loss of the season year in losing a heartbreaking 11-10 game to a determined Pony Express team in sudden death overtime who went on to claim the 2009 Hall of Fame Cup a the International Polo Club in Wellington Thursday morning.


 


The teams traded goals throughout much of the first half, settling in to a 5-5 halftime score. 



Pony Express took advantage of two penalty goals from Nick Roldan and a goal from the field from Matias Magrini as they rode off to an 8-6 lead after the fourth chukker.  Black Watch’s Sugar Erskine scored their only goal of the period.


 


Erskine charged onto the field in the fifth chukker with two quick goals to knot it up at 8-8 before Pelon Stirling scored for Pony Express.  Luis Escobar converted a penalty shot for Black Watch to end the fifth period and the teams left the field in a 9-9 tie.


 


Kris Kampsen got Black Watch on the scoreboard with the opening goal of the sixth chukker before Stirling answered with a goal for Pony Express as the chukker ended in a 10-10 tie, forcing sudden death overtime play.


 


Early breaks went to Black Watch, and it looked like the game might be over when a 30-yard penalty shot was awarded to them.  The ensuing shot went wide, and Pony Express reversed the field.  Black Watch fouled the attacking Pony Express riders, resulting in a penalty shot that Roldan converted for the 11-10 victory.


 


Sugar Erskine’s mare Barracuda was named Best Playing Pony while Nick Roldan was named MVP.