Wins for Dubai and Scapa in SilverCup action in Spain
By Alex Webbe
Dubai (MartÃn Valent, Patricio Cieza, Luis Domecq and AdolfoCambiaso) rode out to a 5-3 halftime lead before handing HB Polo (LudovicPailloncy, Sebastian Pailloncy, Ignacio Toccalino and Pite Merlos) their firstloss of the high goal Silver Cup tournament at Spain’s Santa Maria Polo Club,11-7.
Scapa (1-0) upset Dubai in opening round play, 9-7, anddesperately needed a win to stay in the competition.
In a tentative opening chukker, Dubai took a humble 2-1 leadwhile both teams were feeling their way around the field.
HB Polo staged a second chukker rally as they scored twounanswered goals. Dubai was unable toget on the scoreboard and trailed 3-2.
Dubai was focused in the third chukker as they scored threegoals on offense while a disciplined defense kept HB Polo off of thescoreboard. The first half ended withDubai basting control of the game and a 5-3 lead.
Three more goals were scored by Dubai in the fourth chukkeras HB Polo was unable to score for the second consecutive period. After four periods of play Dubai was on topby five goals, 8-3.
HB Polo picked up a pair of goals in the fifth while Dubaiwas content to rest their horses. Dubaicontinued to lead, 8-5.
Dubai scored three of the last five goals of the game in an11-7 victory. Dubai improved theirrecord to 1-1 with the win while HB Polo fell to 1-1.
Earlier in the day, Scapa (Michael Redding, Jack Richardson, Eduardo Novillo Astrada and Marcos Di Paola) scored their second straight winby defeating Royal Salute (Petrus Fernandini, Alejandro Muzzio, Jaime Huidobro and Malcolm Borwick) by the score of 11-9. The win boosts Scapa’s record to2-0 while Royal Salute slips to 0-2.
Three games are slated to be played on Thursday, August 8with Halcyon Gallery facing El Rosario in the early game. Later in the day, Ellerston (1-0) takes onAyala (0-1) with UAE (1-0) meeting Dos Lunas (0-1) at the same time.