Black Watch Edges Laurence-Wallace/Paladin Rally 13-12 To Capture Hall of Fame Cup Title Saturday at International Polo Club
WELLINGTON, FL (April 21, 2007) – Ten-goaler Facundo Pieres converted a 60-yard penalty shot with 42 seconds remaining to lift Black Watch over Laurence-Wallace/Paladin Rally 13-12 in the championship match of the 26-goal Hall of Fame Cup Saturday at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Pieres’ game-winner helped Black Watch overcome two missed penalty shots in the final chukker.
Laurence-Wallace tied the game at 12-12 with 1:58 left on Agustin Merlos’ tap-in and driving the entire length of the field.
Gonzalito Pieres and Nacho Figueras led Black Watch with four goals apiece while Facundo Pieres finished with three goals. Patron Neil Hirsch added one goal.
Ten-goaler Agustin Merlos led Laurence-Wallace with six goals while Mike Azzaro scored three goals, patron Elizabeth Iorio added two goals and Luis Escobar had one goal.
Iorio was voted as Most Valuable Player while Mara, owned and ridden by Merlos, received the Best Playing Pony Award.
Owen Rinehart received an award for having the best string of ponies during the Stanford U.S. Open.
In other action, 5-goaler Carlucho Arellano scored with four seconds remaining to lift Almendares over Parrot Heads 10-9 in the USPA National President’s Cup final.
The loss overshadowed an outstanding performance by 5-goaler Brad Blake of Parrot Heads, who scored all nine goals.
Arellano finished with a team-high six goals while Mario de Mendoza and Tomas Collingwood scored two goals apiece.
The winter high-goal polo season concludes Sunday at 3 p.m. when pre-tournament favorite Crab Orchard (4-1), led by superstar 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso, plays Jedi (4-0) in the Stanford U.S. Open championship match at International Polo Club.
The Stanford U.S. Open presented by Bombardier final is expected to draw more than 7,000 spectators.
Historically, the U.S. Open has always been the grand prize of polo in North America. It is one of only three tournaments played at the 26-goal echelon, the highest-rated tournament in the United States. The others are the C.V. Whitney Cup and USPA Piaget Gold Cup, both also played at International Polo Club.
The first U.S. Open title game was played in 1904 at Van Cortlandt Park in New York City where the Wanderers defeated the Freebooters 4 ½-3, the lowest scoring final in the history of the tournament.
The polo matches at International Polo Club are open to the public. General admission for the Stanford U.S. Open presented by Bombardier final on Sunday at 3 p.m. is $15 for adults. Children under 3 enter for free. Tickets may be purchased at Gate A on the day of the game.
International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South, between Pierson Road and Lake Worth Road in Wellington. For information, directions or ticket purchases, please call the club at (561) 204-5687 or visit the website at www.internationalpoloclub.com.
Saturday’s result
Hall of Fame Cup Final
Black Watch 13, Laurence-Wallace/Paladin Rally 12
Sunday’s schedule
Stanford U.S. Open Final
Crab Orchard vs. Jedi, 3 p.m.