It might have been the 1st June but the weather was unseasonally cold and blustery as the teams took to the fields for Saturday’s league games. First up was La Dolfina Scone versus Green Gates. This was very much a game of two halves. Noor Khadra’s team started strongly and were leading 7-3 at the half-time break. Some great play from Fran Elizalde and Cesar Crespo in particular put Green Gates in the driving seat. But it all changed in the fourth. A goal spree from La Dolfina Scone saw them take a one goal lead (9-8) at the end of this chukka. In fact they fired through 11 goals in the final three chukkas to only three in reply from Green Gates. Such an onslaught was hard to overcome and La Dolfina Scone registered their second win in this tournament.
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The match between Desert Palm and Thai Polo/Get A Drip was a bit more even in that the lead swapped between these two fast-paced teams. Desert Palm led after the first chukka (1-0) only for Thai Polo/Get A Drip – fielding Jose Araya once more as Ned Hine was still injured following his fall last weekend – to take control in the next two chukkas. They were narrowly leading 5-3 at the half-time bell. Desert Palm pushed themselves ahead (7-6) after the fourth. They prevented Thai Polo/Get A Drip from scoring at all in the fifth – crucial in such a tight game – and then pulled further ahead (12-7) to win the match. This gives Desert Palm their third victory – their only loss came in their opening game – and has them looking strong in Group One.
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The final match of the day delivered the second overtime of the tournament. Jean Paul Luksic’s Gaston won this golden goal scenario, winning 11-10 thanks to a massive hit from Cruz Heguy. It had looked as if it was going Black Bears’ way in the first half. They headed into the half-time break with a 7-5 lead. Gaston swapped things around in the fourth to go ahead by one (9-8). With all to play for both teams gave it their all. They levelled the scores (9-9) in the fifth and with a minute left on the clock in the sixth the scoreboard was reading 10-10. When a penalty three was awarded in favour of Black Bears everyone thought that was the match done and dusted but Facundo Pieres sent it wide, pushing the game into extra time. Even the best players can feel the pressure. Soon into this seventh chukka, the 20-year-old Cruz Heguy fired through a huge shot from distance to give Gaston their first win.
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Photo credit – Pablo Ramirez