By Alex Webbe

 

EFG Bank relied on the teamwork of longtime friends Julio Arellano and Luis Escobar to score a 16-13 win over a troublesome Lucchese side in the opening game of the Bobby Barry Memorial Cup at the International Polo Club in Wellington.

Early goals from Mike Azzaro and Andres Weisz had Lucchese on top early, but South African 5-goaler Whistle Uys (pronounced ace), Arellano (8-goals) and Escobar (7-goals) scored single goals to leave the field after the first chukker in a 3-3 tie.

Lucchese rallied in the second frame with two more goals from Mike Azzaro and another single goal from Weisz for a 6-4 advantage.  A penalty goal from Arellano was the only offense EFG Bank could muster, and Lucchese led by two.

“We made some adjustments after the second chukker,” said EFG Bank’s Luis Escobar, and took control of the game in the third period.”

Indeed they did, as EFG Bank scored five goals in the chukker (two from Escobar and three from Arellano).  Lucchese’s Azzaro converted a penalty shot to keep from being shut out, but EFG Bank took a 9-7 halftime lead.

EFG Bank lost no time in pouring it on in the fourth chukker.  Three unanswered goals from Arellano had them on the top side of a 12-7 score.  Nine-goaler Mike Azzaro added two goals fro Lucchese to cut the lead, but still trailed 12-9.

“We started matching up our horses a little better later in the game,” added Escobar, as Lucchese fought back.  Two more goals from Uys and another goal from Escobar had them up 15-9 before another Azzaro goal put Lucchese in double digits, trailing 15-10.

Azzaro converted two penalty shots and Shane Rice got on the scoreboard with a goal from the field, but it was too little too late.  Arellano scored his sixth goal of the game to close out the scoring and give EFG Bank a 16-13 win, and a spot in Sunday’s noon finals against Mt. Brilliant.

Mike Azzaro led all scoring with nine goals.  Teammate Andres Weisz scored three times and Shane Rice added a goal in the loss.

EFG Bank’s Luis Escobar scored team high seven goals.  Julio Arellano scored six goals and Whistle Uys added three goals in the winning effort.

 

MT. BRILLIANT 11, ISLA CARROLL 9

In earlier Bobby Barry Memorial Cup action, Mt. Brilliant fell behind 3-0 in the first chukker before rallying for an 11-9 win to earn the chance to play EFG Bank Sunday in the finals of the Bobby Barry Memorial Cup.

Playing without teammates John Goodman (back) and Sugar Erskine (flew to South Africa on a family matter), Isla Carroll took advantage of one goal by handicap to build a 3-0 lead after the opening period of play. 

Mt. Brilliant’s Bo Goodman opened the second chukker with a goal from the field followed by goals from Santiago Chavanne and English 6-goaler Julian Daniels (substituting for Gaston Lisioli who was injured in the second chukker).  A final goal from Chavanne had Mt. Brilliant ahead after two chukkers, 4-3.

Isla Carroll’s Todd Offen tied it at 4-4 in the third period, but two goals from Pelon Escapite left Mt. Brilliant in the lead, 6-4 as the chukker ended.

Daniels scored twice in the fourth chukker and Chavanne added a goal for a 9-5 lead.  Mariano Obregon accounted for the only scoring of the chukker by Isla Carroll with a converted penalty shot.

Twenty-three-year-old Mariano Obregon scored two more goals in the fifth period and Owen Rinehart scored, but a final goal from Chavanne kept Mt. Brilliant in the lead, 10-8.

Julian Daniels’ fourth goal of the day gave Mt. Brilliant a three goal lead.  Todd Offen ended the scoring with a penalty conversion, and an 11-9 Mt. Brilliant win.

Julian Daniels and Santiago Chavanne led all scoring with four goals apiece.  Pelon Escapite scored twice and Bo Goodman added a goal in the win.

Mariano Obregon and Todd Offen each scored three goals for Isla Carroll.  Teammates Gillian Johnston and Owen Rinehart added single goals.

Bobby Barry Memorial Cup action will conclude with a noon game between EFG Bank and Mt. Brilliant.

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