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Newport Defeats Whitehall Ranch In Top Pony 12-Goal Series Feature Game; Jose Donoso Named MVP
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By Arianna Delin, Sharon Robb for Grand Champions Polo ClubAfter a slow start in the first half, Newport powered its way back to defeat Whitehall Ranch, 9-5, Saturday in the Top Pony 12-Goal Series Tournament at Grand Champions Polo Club. With the game tied 4-4 at the half and 5-5 after the fifth chukker, Newport (Gene Goldstein, 1, Lucas Arellano, 0, Michel Dorignac, 6, Jose Donoso, 5) found its offensive punch in the final two chukkers. Newport outscored Whitehall Ranch (Bill Lane, 0, Miguel Torres, 4, Tommy Collingwood, 5, Stewart Armstrong, 3), 4-0, in the final two chukkers to win its third game of the six-team tournament.
“We had a lot of missed shots on goal in the first half,” said Arellano, at 15, one of the youngest players in the tournament. “I missed a couple in front of the goal that I could have gotten,” Arellano said. “I think we kind of got the hang of it by the second half. It’s a lot of fun to play with these players. My teammates help me out a lot.” Donoso, dominant on both ends of the field, was named Most Valuable Player. Halloween, owned by Lane, was named Best Playing Pony.
Dorignac led scoring with five goals, including four in the second half. Goldstein, turning in one of his best games of the season, added two goals. Arellano and Donoso each had one goal. Torres had two goals and Lane, Collingwood and Armstrong each had one goal. “It was a good game,” Dorignac said. “At the beginning we couldn’t finish our plays. At halftime we just decided to settle down and be patient and that’s what happened.
“It was good we started scoring a couple of goals. Things started to work. We started finishing the plays, that was the important thing. We had our momentum back and we started scoring goals.” Goldstein and Dorignac put the 12-goal team together with Donoso and Arellano. “We played a lot during the season and then we had the opportunity to play with Jose and Lucas,” Dorignac said. “We enjoy playing with Arellano. A 15 year old, it is amazing to see how these kids improve very quick.” Dorignac has played every level of polo this season, from 26 to 12 goal.
“You have to go game by game,” Dorignac said. “You see the team you have to play with and go against. That way you come out with a strategy the night before and few hours before the game. “Our team has a good chance of winning. We need a little bit of luck to be in the final but I think I am confident we’re going to make it.” It was Collingwood’s second game of the day. In the morning Collingwood’s Goose Creek team was edged by Equuleus, 14-13, in the 16-goal Santa Rita Open, also at Grand Champions
The use of instant replay and team challenges during the 2015 polo season continue to make a positive difference in the game. It’s been praised by players and patrons. Both Newport and Whitehall Ranch used team challenges in both halves. ChukkerTV, leaders in polo broadcasting, introduced the state-of-the-art technology in January, 2014 at Grand Champions Polo Club where it got rave reviews about the cutting-edge technology to help improve the sport and officiating.
Grand Champions was the first polo club in the world to offer the technology where teams are allowed to challenge an umpire’s call during a game. It is the first time in the sport’s history, instant replay and team challenges are being utilized. No club in the world has used the technology. Only replays are used in Argentina and other tournaments around the world. ChukkerTV also offers re-broadcasts, Video On Demand and player interviews.
2015 POLO ON DEMAND Grand Champions Polo Club, featuring five world-class fields, has a full schedule of tournaments from January to May. Let our polo experts create a turn-key experience including top pros to bring out the best in you and your team. Lessons are available. 12-GOAL TOURNAMENTS MARCH: The Top Pony 12-Goal Series; APRIL: Museum of Polo & Hall of Fame Challenge Cup 8-GOAL TOURNAMENTS: MARCH: The Limited Edition 8-Goal Series and USPA Regional President’s Cup; APRIL: USPA Association Cup 6-GOAL TOURNAMENTS MARCH: Madelon Bourdieu Memorial; APRIL: Las Acacias 16-GOAL TOURNAMENTS: MARCH: Santa Rita Abierto; APRIL: John T. Oxley Memorial Trophy
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