By Alex Webbe
Bendabout opened play in the 2010 Ylvisaker Cup with a 12-11 win over Mt. Brilliant Saturday morning at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
Falling behind 3-2 after the first chukker of play, the re-aligned Bendabout lineup (moving Owen Rinehart from #4 to #2) took the lead back in the second period on the strength of three goals from Bendabout 9-goaler Nick Roldan. The Bendabout defense held Mt. Brilliant to a single penalty goal from Santiago Chavanne. Bendabout led, 5-4.
Photo by Ami of Polo Paparazzi.
Chavanne tied it again in the opening minute of the third chukker but was answered with a goal from Bendabout’s Owen Rinehart. A second Chavanne ended the chukker with the score all even at 6-6.
Mt. Brilliant moved ahead 7-6 to open the second half with Chavanne scoring his fifth goal of the game, but Bendabout responded with goals from team captain Gillian Johnston and Roldan. The chukker ended with Bendabout on top, 8-7.
Chavanne tied it on a penalty conversion in the fifth, but goals from Johnston and Roldan kept Bendabout ahead 10-8 as the period ended.
Bendabout took the field in the sixth chukker intent on closing out the game. Rinehart’s second goal of the game had Bendabout up 11-8 before Mt. Brilliant could mount an attack. Chavanne scored and Roldan answered with a Bendabout goal. Bendabout held on to a 12-9 lead with time running out.
Chavanne scored again and Mt. Prospect continued to press the Bendabout defense. Bendabout fouled with twenty seconds left in the game, resulting in a penalty goal taken by Marianito Obregon as time expired. Bendabout trotted off the field with a 12-11 win, and on the eve of the finals of the Joe Barry Memorial Cup, the Ylvisaker Cup competition had begun.
Roldan led the Bendabout scoring with eight goals. Johnston and Rinehart added two goals apiece. Chavanne scored eight times for Mt. Brilliant. Obregon added two goals and Bo Goodman drove one through the goal posts in the loss.
“We played our game,” said Roldan. “We kept the ball moving,” he added, “we took it to them.”
High-goal action continues today with three 20-goal games in Ylvisaker Cup competition leading up to the 3 pm finals of the Joe Barry Memorial Cup match between the Hawks and Zacara.
Earlier Ylvisaker Cup games have Patagones playing the Wanderers/Isla Carroll at 10am followed by two games at noon- Faraway Polo vs. Lucchese and Lechuza Caracas vs. Yellow Cab.