Tonkawa, Travieso and La Indiana Improve to 2-0 as Joe Barry Cup Continues
After rain continually delayed play in the 2018 Joe Barry Cup, play resumed Sunday with three games as the three undefeated teams playing remained undefeated, improving their records to 2-0.
Tonkawa displayed a strong performance in a 13-9 victory over Coca-Cola, as Sapo Caset led the way with seven goals. Coca-Cola were put on their heels early in the game, as Tonkawa attacked relentlessly, utilizing their home field advantage to outshoot Coca-Cola 8-3 in the opening two chukkers. Scoring five of their eight shot attempts, while Caset added two penalty goals provided Tonkawa with the early 7-2 lead as Coca-Cola quickly found themselves trailing by five. A fast-paced game with few fouls, Tonkawa used their early lead to maintain their distance from Coca-Cola, playing an effective defensive game and matching the Coca-Cola offense in the second half. Perfect 3 for 3 shooting from the penalty line wasn’t enough to get Coca-Cola back in the game as the duo of Caset and Julian de Lusarreta combined for 11 goals in the 13-9 victory in the opening game of the day.
After an impressive win over Pilot in their first game of the Joe Barry Cup, Travieso put on another good performance, defeating SD Farms in convincing fashion 12-6. With his second straight eight goal performance, Sebastian Merlos led the way for Travieso, maintaining the scoring lead in the tournament. Shooting an effective 62% in the game, Travieso was just as effective defensively, holding SD Farms to just seven shots in the game and just one field goal in the second half. Making his debut in the Joe Barry Cup, patron Sayyu Dantata scored two goals, tied for the team lead on SD Farms, but it was the team effort of Travieso that was too much throughout the game. Winning 15 of the 23 throw-ins, Travieso controlled possession and were able to keep SD Farms on the defensive to finish with the 12-6 victory.
The final game of the day on Field #1 at International Polo Club Palm Beach saw La Indiana overcome a quiet first half, to defeat Grand Champions 9-8 in a game that was decided in the final minutes. A defensive style of game, both teams combined for just one field goal in the first half, with Grand Champions taking advantage of nine fouls from La Indiana to convert three of their four penalty attempts. Victorino Ruiz Jorba was the key player for La Indiana as they took control of the game in the fourth chukka, with Jorba scoring two of La Indiana’s four goals as they stretched their lead to 6-3 with two chukkas remaining. Foul trouble began to be a story late in the game as six fouls from La Indiana, provided Nico Pieres with three penalty 2 attempts and one penalty 4 as he was able to convert them all, bringing his goal total to seven for the game. After Mike Azzaro, scored Grand Champions lone field goal in the game in the 6th chukka, Jeff Hall responded for La Indiana as a neckshot from 40 yards out found its way between the goal posts, sealing the 9-8 victory for La Indiana.