Thermal, CA (February 9, 2008) – While East Coast gangsters were rounded up and arrested this past week in New York City, such was not the case at the La Quinta Polo Club on Saturday afternoon, as the gangsters of Southern California, Bill Freeman and Fergus Gould, ran free and qualified for their second final in as many tournaments.
Playing with Sean Keys and Graham Bray in the Corleone Cup, as Corlene/Hidden Creek, Freeman and Gould remained undefeated in 2008 with an 11 – 9 victory over Stormcat/Pink Deco.
With patons Craig Steinke and David Ragland unable to play due to business commitments, Victor Soto (2 goals) and Michael Scott (2 goals) filled in for the truck drivers and as a result, Corleone/Hidden Creek were awarded three goals at the start.
With the large opening lead, Freeman and Keys took advantage (gangsters will do that), led throughout and were never challenged. Graham Bray, playing his best game of the young season, scored five times, Gould had a pair, and Freeman contributed one. The victory gave Corleone/Hidden Creek top spot in the tournament format, with five points, and the finals berth.
For the truckers, Santigo von Wernich played well with five counters, and Marcos Araya and Soto had two each.
The second qualifier of the day saw Steve Armour and Chris Maloney’s Shanghai/Tri Tech overpower Kelly Maloney and Jesse Bray’s Ohana/La Quinta by a count of 10 – 6. Giving up a hanicap marker at the start, the Armour/Chris Maloney foursome was simply too much for Bray and Kelly Maloney. While tied at five at the end of four periods – due to a goal given with Abby Riggs substituting for Armour – the Hawaiians simply could not control Rob Yackley and Gaston von Wernich in the final two.
For the winners, Chris Maloney and von Wernich had four each and Yackley had two.
Jesse Bray scored twice in the losing effort as Daniel Juarez and Kimo Huddleston potted one each.The handicap award at the start and the substitute goal completed the scoring.
The triumph gave Armour and Chris Maloney four points in the standings and second place, good enough to qualify for Sunday’s final against the aforementioned Corleone/Hidden Creek.
The final of the Corleone Cup will be played at one o’clock Sunday afternoon – Corleone/Hidden Creek vs. Shanghai/Tri Tech.
tony gregg