By Alex Webbe
Nick Roldan scored four of Bendabout’s first five goals as they cruised to an early 5-1 lead, but Faraway Polo turned the tables on them in the second half on their way to an 18-14 win in the opening round of play in the 2010 Joe Barry Memorial Cup at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
The opening chukker was all Bendabout as scored at will. Two penalty conversions and two goals from the field from Roldan were complimented by a single goal from Owen Rinehart before Faraway even woke up.
Julian Daniels finally got Faraway on the scoreboard before the chukker ended, but Bendabout looked awfully strong and left the field with a four goal lead, 5-1.
Whistles sounded and the teams cashed in on penalty shots in the second chukker. Roldan converted two penalty shots while Faraway got a penalty goal from Pelon Escapite and two more from Julio Arellano, along with a goal from the field. Suddenly Bendabout’s four goal lead was cut in half as Faraway trailed 7-5.
Faraway was now playing at full strength. Escapite and Daniels were pressing the attack, Arellano was driving long shots down the field and Hutton Goodman was closing the door on Bendabout, defensively.
Escapite, Daniels and Arellano each notched a single goal in the third period while holding Bendabout to a pair of goals, and felt confident as they rode off the field trailing by a single goal, 9-8.
Defense was the byword of the fourth chukker as Faraway shut down the Bendabout offense and converted three penalty shots for goals, first tying and then taking the lead. The chukker ended with Faraway in front of Bendabout 11-9.
Faraway continued to press its attack. Daniels added two more goals from the field and Arellano tacked on two more penalty goals. Bendabout got single goals from Roldan and Rinehart, but couldn’t ignite any organized offense. Faraway stretched its lead to four goals, 15-11, as the chukker ended.
Both teams charged up and down the field in the final chukker trading goals, with each team accounting for three and Faraway trotting off with a comfortable 15-11 victory.
Roldan led all scoring with 11 goals. Rinehart scored twice and Ulysses Escapite added a goal in the loss.
Arellano scored 10 goals for Faraway. Julian Daniels and Escapite scored four goals apiece.
MT. BRILLIANT 11, WANDERERS/ISLA CARROLL 10
Argentine 9-goaler Santiago Chavanne made an impressive debut of his talents, scoring seven times as Mt. Brilliant rallied for an 11-10 win over the home Wanderers/Isla Carroll team Monday morning at the International Polo club in Wellington.
Goals from Chavanne and Chris Nevins had Mt. Brilliant leading 2-1 after the first chukker, holding The Wanderers/Isla Carroll to a single Kris Kampsen penalty conversion.
The Wanderers charged back in the second period putting three goals on the board while holding Mt. Brilliant scoreless. Single goals from Nacho Figueras, John Goodman and Kampsen gave them a 4-2 lead.
Two consecutive goals from Chavanne and a goal from team captain Bo Goodman were countered by a pair of goals from Kampsen, and The Wanderers left the field at the end of the first half holding a narrow 6-5 advantage.
Under the direction of coach Julian Hipwood, Mt. Brilliant regrouped and returned to the field with a vengeance. Bo Goodman added a goal and Chavanne scored three times from the field. The Mt. Brilliant held The Wanderers scoreless and took a handy 9-6 lead.
“We saved our best horses for the last three chukkers,” said Chavanne. ”They went very well today,” he added.
The Wanderers fought to get back in the game for the next two chukkers but could come no closer than within a goal of Mt. Brilliant, falling 11-10.