By Alex Webbe
San Saba bounced back from an erratic start to score an 11-10 win over a realigned BTA lineup in the opening round of the 20-goal Philip Iglehart Cup at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
“I felt like we had control of the game in the third chukker,” said San Saba 8-goaler Sapo Caset. “We really didn’t play our game in the first two chukkers,” he added.
When asked about the dramatic ending that had San Saba staving off a BTA rally team captain Tommy Lee Jones remarked, “I get enough drama at work.”
A pulled muscle had BTA regular Hector Galindo sitting on the sidelines along with Kelly Beal (shoulder separation). Tommy Biddle filled in for Galindo while Kelly’s daughter K. C. took his spot on the team.
BTA’s chances looked promising in the opening chukker with Pablo Spinacci scoring three times as San Saba was held to a single goal from Sapo Caset.
BTA went up 4-1 after Biddle converted a penalty shot, but goals from Carlucho Arellano and Sapo Caset cut the lead to a single goal, 4-3.
The third chukker belonged to BTA. Caset went on a scoring spree, scoring three unanswered goals. Tommy Lee Jones notched the final goal of the chukker to end the first half with San Saba on top of a 7-4 score.
“When we got the right match-ups, we had no problem with them (BTA) said Arellano. “We were comfortable with play and knew we controlled the game.”
Biddle scored on another penalty shot to open the fourth chukker, but a long run for a goal from Arellano was capped by Toto Collardin’s first goal of the game for a 9-5 San Saba lead.
BTA reared its head in the fifth chukker. Scoring three consecutive goals from Jeff Blake (penalty conversion), Biddle (penalty conversion) and K. C. Beal before Collardin answered with a single goal from San Saba. BTA continued to trail after five chukkers of play, but the lead was cut to 10-8.
Caset converted a penalty goal for the first score of the final chukker and a three goal lead, 11-8, but BTA was in the rally mode. Goals from Biddle and Spinacci cut the San Saba lead to a single goal, 11-10. With BTA pressing to get the tying goal, time expired with San Saba taking home the 11-10 win.
Sapo Caset led all scoring with six goals. Carlucho Arellano and Toto Collardin scored two goals apiece and Tommy Lee Jones added a goal for the win.
Tommy Biddle and Pablo Spinacci scored four goals apiece for BTA. Jeff Blake and K. C. Beal registered single goals.
PIERES SCORES 12 GOALS IN THE AUDI WIN
In earlier competition, Gonzalito Pieres scored an even dozen goals in Audi’s opening match of the Iglehart Cup on its way to a resounding 17-12 win over Lucchese.
Audi jumped galloped off to a 5-1 lead after the first chukker of play as Pieres put the ball through the goal posts four times and Brandon Phillips scored once for Audi Nine-goaler Mike Azzaro scored the only Lucchese goal of the period.
Single goals from Pieres and Phillips gave Audi seven goals at the end of the second chukker while Lucchese tried to catch up with three goals from Azzaro. Audi continued to lead, 7-4.
Two more goals from Pieres and a single from Phillips gave Audi ten goals at halftime while Lucchese got a single goal from Andres Weisz in the third chukker. Audi left the field at halftime with a commanding 10-5 advantage.
Pieres and Phillips added single goals fro Audi in the fourth, but were countered by single goals from Azzaro and Shane Rice for Lucchese. The Audi lead held at 12-7.
Audi sealed the deal in the fifth period with two more goals from both Pieres and Phillips. Andres Weisz kept Lucchese from getting blanked with a goal, but Audi led by eight goals, 16-8.
Audi appeared to slow its pace in the final period as Weisz scored three times for Lucchese. Mike Azzaro scored his sixth goal of the game, but Pieres’ twelfth goal of the game was enough to carry Audi to the 17-12 win.
Iglehart Cup action continues on Thursday afternoon with a 3pm game between Patagones and Lechuza Caracas.