San Saba rebounded from last Sunday’s loss in the finals of the Joe Barry Memorial to score an exciting 13-12 victory over a talented EFG Bank team in the opening round of play in the 2009 Ylvisaker Cup at the International Polo Club in Wellington Saturday afternoon. “All I could think of was the number of times we had been ahead by five goals going into the final chukker of play and lost,” said San Saba team captain Tommy Lee Jones. That was not the case this time. After a 1-1 first chukker that had the teams testing one another’s strengths and weaknesses San Saba exploded with five goals in the second chukker. Sapo Caset scored four times and Carlucho Arellano added a single goal. EFG Bank managed a single goal from Carlucho’s older brother, Julio Arellano, as San Saba took a commanding 6-2 lead. EFG Bank tried to fight its way back into it in the third chukker as Julio Arellano converted a penalty shot and scored twice from the field, and cut the San Saba lead to two goals, 7-5, at halftime. Defenses tightened in the fourth period with San Saba getting goals from Carlucho Arellano and Toto Collardin while EFG Bank was held to a single penalty goal from Julio Arellano. San Saba carried a three goal lead into the fifth chukker, 9-6, but EFG Bank wasn’t ready to concede anything. “We each have nine good horses,” said Jones, when asked about the depth of the San Saba stables, “so we felt good about that, but anything can happen in polo.” Attacks were launched and rejected throughout the fifth period with foul shots supplying the only scoring of the chukker. Luis Escobar scored twice for EFG Bank while Caset converted three penalty shots for San Saba. “I was a bit concerned about the final chukker,” said Caset. “We had been leading by a few goals throughout the game,” he said, “and I was afraid that we might lose focus, get a little careless in the final chukker.” Caset had good reason to be concerned. Trailing 12-8, Julio Arellano converted a penalty shot in the opening minute of the final chukker to make it 12-9. Escobar scored from the field to make it 12-10 before Whistle Uys’ second goal of the game made it a one goal game, 12-11. “They took some chances in the final chukker,” said Caset, “I knew they would, and they converted them,” he said. “I was quite concerned.” Carlucho Arellano finally answered with a goal for San Saba as the team struggled for control. Uys scored again for EFG Bank, but it wasn’t enough. The final bell sounded with San Saba on the winning side of a 13-12 game. “We’re concentrating on having a little more fun.” Said Jones after the game, “and it seems to be turning out alright for us.” Caset led all scoring with eight goals. Carlucho Arellano scored four times and Toto Collardin added a goal for the win. Julio Arellano led the EFG Bank team with six goals. Teammates Whistle Uys and Luis scored three goals apiece. Story by Alex Webbe for Polo Zone.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
2009 YLVISAKER CUP IPC FLORIDA 22nd Jan
A Carlos Gracida-led Patagones team rallied from a 7-6 half time deficit to score a 15-10 win over Audi in the opening round of play in the 2009 Ylvisaker Cup at the International Polo Club.
Julio Gracida scored the first goal of the game for Patagones followed by a goal from Gillian Johnston (substituting for the injured Gonzalo Avendano). Gonzalito Pieres got Audi on the scoreboard with a penalty goal, and with time running out, Juan Bollini tied the score at 2-2. Carlos Gracida put Patagones up 3-2 with a goal in the second chukker, before Audi got on track. Gonzalito Pieres scored three goals and Brandon Phillips added another for a 6-4 advantage. Julio Gracida accounted for the other Patagones goal. “We were having trouble in the throw-ins in the opening chukkers.” said Carlos Gracida, “and they were taking advantage of our mistakes.” Pieres converted another penalty goal in the third chukker before Julio Gracida’s two goals cut the Audi lead to a single goal, 7-6, at the half. Hall of Famer Memo Gracida was on hand to offer the Patagones team some advice at halftime, and a new team took the field for the fourth chukker. Julio Gracida tied it with his fifth goal of the game but Pieres converted a penalty shot to give Audi an 8-7 lead, but Patagones was just warming up. Carlos Gracida added three more goals and Johnston scored her second to take a healthy 11-8 edge. “They (Patagones) played as individuals in the first half,” said Memo Gracida, “but came together as a team in the last three chukkers.” Carlos Gracida was displaying 10-goal form on both offense and defense as he led charges and directed players on the field. Two goals from Audi’s Brandon Phillips were answered by Carlos Gracida who scored once from the field and then converted a penalty shot for another goal. After five chukkers of play, Patagones held on to a 13-10 lead.
Audi continued to press in the final chukker, but the Patagones defense held. “They (Patagones) kept Gonzalito (Pieres) from getting the ball in the second half,” added Memo Gracida, “If he can’t get the ball, he can’t score.” Gonzalito may not have been able to get the ball, but Carlos Gracida certainly did. Charging down the field toward the southern goal, Carlos Gracida executed a neck-shot that carried nearly 70 yards at an extreme angle for a goal. Patagones went up 14-10. A closing goal from Julio Gracida gave Patagones the 15-10 win. “I think it was a great team effort,” said Carlos Avendano, who played a solid back position for Patagones. “I think that the combination of Carlos (Gracida) and I helped set up the rest of the team.” Carlos Gracida led all scoring with seven goals. Teammate and nephew Julio Gracida scored six times and Gillian Johnston added two goals for the win. Gonzalito Pieres scored six goals for Audi. Brandon Phillips added three goals to the pot and Juan Bollini chipped a goal.
ISLA CARROLL 9, LUCCHESE 8
As if it weren’t enough to score all eight of his team’s goals in regulation play, Isla Carroll’s Sugar Erskine converted a penalty shot in sudden-death overtime to capture a 9-8 win at the expense of a beleaguered Lucchese team. Trailing 6-3 at halftime, Lucchese relied on three consecutive penalty goals from 9-goaler Mike Azzaro to tie the game at 6-6 in the fourth chukker. Erskine got the last word in, however, scoring his seventh goal of the game for a 7-6 lead.
Lucchese’s Andres Weisz scored the only goal of the fifth chukker and tied it at 7-7 in the hotly contested match. Azzaro continued to press for Lucchese in the sixth chukker, scoring his sixth goal of the game and giving them a narrow 8-7 lead. Two more missed scoring opportunities by Lucchese were followed by another Erskine goal, evening the score and forcing the overtime period. A ten-minute intermission was followed by furious play by both sides, opportunities gained opportunities lost. Lucchese was whistled for a foul and a penalty shot was awarded to Isla Carroll. Fittingly so, Sugar Erskine converted the shot for the 9-8 win. Erskine scored all nine Isla Carroll goals while Mike Azzaro scored six times for Lucchese. Andres Weisz added two goals for Lucchese in the loss. This story is by Alex Webbe off Polo Zone
Julio Gracida scored the first goal of the game for Patagones followed by a goal from Gillian Johnston (substituting for the injured Gonzalo Avendano). Gonzalito Pieres got Audi on the scoreboard with a penalty goal, and with time running out, Juan Bollini tied the score at 2-2. Carlos Gracida put Patagones up 3-2 with a goal in the second chukker, before Audi got on track. Gonzalito Pieres scored three goals and Brandon Phillips added another for a 6-4 advantage. Julio Gracida accounted for the other Patagones goal. “We were having trouble in the throw-ins in the opening chukkers.” said Carlos Gracida, “and they were taking advantage of our mistakes.” Pieres converted another penalty goal in the third chukker before Julio Gracida’s two goals cut the Audi lead to a single goal, 7-6, at the half. Hall of Famer Memo Gracida was on hand to offer the Patagones team some advice at halftime, and a new team took the field for the fourth chukker. Julio Gracida tied it with his fifth goal of the game but Pieres converted a penalty shot to give Audi an 8-7 lead, but Patagones was just warming up. Carlos Gracida added three more goals and Johnston scored her second to take a healthy 11-8 edge. “They (Patagones) played as individuals in the first half,” said Memo Gracida, “but came together as a team in the last three chukkers.” Carlos Gracida was displaying 10-goal form on both offense and defense as he led charges and directed players on the field. Two goals from Audi’s Brandon Phillips were answered by Carlos Gracida who scored once from the field and then converted a penalty shot for another goal. After five chukkers of play, Patagones held on to a 13-10 lead.
Audi continued to press in the final chukker, but the Patagones defense held. “They (Patagones) kept Gonzalito (Pieres) from getting the ball in the second half,” added Memo Gracida, “If he can’t get the ball, he can’t score.” Gonzalito may not have been able to get the ball, but Carlos Gracida certainly did. Charging down the field toward the southern goal, Carlos Gracida executed a neck-shot that carried nearly 70 yards at an extreme angle for a goal. Patagones went up 14-10. A closing goal from Julio Gracida gave Patagones the 15-10 win. “I think it was a great team effort,” said Carlos Avendano, who played a solid back position for Patagones. “I think that the combination of Carlos (Gracida) and I helped set up the rest of the team.” Carlos Gracida led all scoring with seven goals. Teammate and nephew Julio Gracida scored six times and Gillian Johnston added two goals for the win. Gonzalito Pieres scored six goals for Audi. Brandon Phillips added three goals to the pot and Juan Bollini chipped a goal.
ISLA CARROLL 9, LUCCHESE 8
As if it weren’t enough to score all eight of his team’s goals in regulation play, Isla Carroll’s Sugar Erskine converted a penalty shot in sudden-death overtime to capture a 9-8 win at the expense of a beleaguered Lucchese team. Trailing 6-3 at halftime, Lucchese relied on three consecutive penalty goals from 9-goaler Mike Azzaro to tie the game at 6-6 in the fourth chukker. Erskine got the last word in, however, scoring his seventh goal of the game for a 7-6 lead.
Lucchese’s Andres Weisz scored the only goal of the fifth chukker and tied it at 7-7 in the hotly contested match. Azzaro continued to press for Lucchese in the sixth chukker, scoring his sixth goal of the game and giving them a narrow 8-7 lead. Two more missed scoring opportunities by Lucchese were followed by another Erskine goal, evening the score and forcing the overtime period. A ten-minute intermission was followed by furious play by both sides, opportunities gained opportunities lost. Lucchese was whistled for a foul and a penalty shot was awarded to Isla Carroll. Fittingly so, Sugar Erskine converted the shot for the 9-8 win. Erskine scored all nine Isla Carroll goals while Mike Azzaro scored six times for Lucchese. Andres Weisz added two goals for Lucchese in the loss. This story is by Alex Webbe off Polo Zone
Saturday, January 24, 2009
HAPPY 2009
Come on guys...................Help me find it. Hi every one. Happy 2009. Thanks for returning to Polo Blue. I have been having a rest from the web as you may have gathered but i am back now and ready to report as much of the polo news from 2009 as i can and i hope that our readers will send me any news that they have found also. Thanks for sticking with us and happy reading and reporting.
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