Patagones Successfully Defend Iglehart Cup
By Alex Webbe
Daily News Polo Columnist
On the strength of an 8-7 win, Patagones successfully defended the Iglehart Cup in a back and forth contest with a powerful EFG Bank team Sunday afternoon at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
A small but determined crowd cheered on the two teams in the first final of the 2010 season as Julio Gracida’s opening goal of the game gave Patagones a lead it would never surrender.
EFG Bank tied it once in the first half and twice in the second, but couldn’t manage to take control of the fast paced match.
With less than three minutes to play in the first chukker, Julio Gracida finally broke the scoring drought to give Patagones a 1-0 advantage. Both teams battled until the end of the period with no further scoring.
Patagones came alive in the second frame getting two goals from Carlos Gracida and a goal from Carlos Avendano to take a 4-1 lead. EFG Bank fought its way back into the game with single goals from Luis Escobar and Andres Weisz. Patagones held a 4-2 edge.
Patagones went up 5-2 on a beautiful cut shot from Gonzalo Avendano that EFG Bank answered with two goals from Escobar.
Patagones led 5-4 at halftime after EFG Bank’s Pancho Bensadon mis-hit a penalty shot, negating his effort to tie the score and allowing Patagones to leave the field with the lead.
In the fourth chukker, Patagones got single goals from Gonzalo Avendano and Julio Gracida while Escobar put up two goals for EFG Bank.
Trailing 7-6 going into the fifth chukker, Luis Escobar scored his sixth goal of the game to knot it up at 7-7. A difficult and well-placed cut shot by Gonzalo Avendano gave Patagones an 8-7 lead with seven minutes left to play.
“That was one of the most important goals I ever scored,†said Gonzalo Avendano. “They were a very difficult team.â€
Both teams battled throughout the sixth chukker to no avail as brilliant defensive stops by Patagones turned sure EFG Bank goals aside time and again.
EFG’s final attempt came on a shot by Bensadon with :58 seconds left that went inches wide.
Luis Escobar led all scoring with six goals. Teammate Andres Weisz added a goal in the loss.
“We missed three open goals,†said Escobar of the final chukker of play. “They’re a very tough team,†he added, “it’s the same lineup that won it last year.â€
Carlos Gracida and Gonzalo Avendano scored three goals apiece for Patagones. Julio Gracida added two goals for the winning side.
Julio Gracida was named Most Valuable Player while Carlos Gracida’s horse, Yesterday, WAS HONORED AS Best Playing Pony.
Hawks 15, Lechuza Caracas 8
In earlier action the Hawks scored a decisive 15-8 win over Lechuza Caracas in the opening game of the 2010 Joe Barry Memorial Cup.
After trailing 2-1 after the first chukker of play, the Hawks relied on a realigned lineup and balanced scoring to take an 8-4 halftime lead that they expanded in the second half for a 15-8 romp.
Julian Mannix led the Hawks with six goals. Mariano Aguerre and Fred Mannix, Jr. scored four goals apiece as 10-goaler Mariano directed the relentless attack. Cachi Garcia added a single goal as the Hawks scored the first win of the Barry Cup
Joe Barry Memorial Cup play will continue today at 10 am when The Wanderers/Isla Carroll face Mt. Brilliant followed by a 3 pm contest between Bendabout and Faraway Polo.