Sumaya
defeats Lucchese 14-12 in British Open play
By
Alex Webbe
Sumaya (Ahmad Aboughazale, Tomas Garbarini, Facundo Sola
and Hilario Ulloa) got out to a quick start Thursday afternoon, charging out to
an early 4-2 lead over Lucchese (John Muse, Mark Tomlinson, Javier Novillo
Astrada and Jaime Huidobro) in opening round play of the 2012 Veuve Clicquot
British Open for the Gold Cup at Cowdray Park’s River Field in Midhurst.
Second chukker action slowed down with the two teams
exchanging single goals. After two chukkers
Sumaya maintained a two goal lead, 5-3.
Lucchese stepped it up a notch in the third. Outscoring Sumaya 3-2, Lucchese cut the lead
to a single goal, 7-6, to end the first half of play.
Astrada stirred it up for Lucchese in the fourth, leading
Lucchese to score three goals in the fourth chukker. Sumaya tallied two goals in the chukker, but
it was all even at 9-9 when the final horn sounded at the end of the chukker.
Hilario Ulloa led a fifth chukker Sumaya rally that
garnered them three goals. Lucchese was
held to a single goal, and fell behind 12-10 with one chukker left in
regulation play.
Lucchese and Sumaya exchanged goals in the final chukker,
each scoring a pair. Sumaya wound up on
the winning side of the 14-12 final. Lucchese
Continuing play in the British Open is scheduled for
Saturday, June 29th with Enigma (1-0) facing La Bamba de Areco (1-0)
followed by a contest between Zacara (1-0) and Salkeld (0-1).