By Alex Webbe
Wellington’s own Nicolas Roldan scored six goals in leading Catamount to a 13-8 win over Isla Carroll in the finals of the 2008 Joe Barry Memorial Cup at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
The game wasn’t as one-sided as the final score indicates as Isla Carroll kept it close in the first half on scrappy play from Sugar Erskine and Sylvestre “Bete” Donovan that had Catamount ahead by a single goal (5-4) after the first three chukkers of play.
“We didn’t have any rhythm in the first half,” said Catamount Number 2, Brandon Phillips. “We got regrouped at the halftime, though, and did what we needed to do to win.”
Roldan scored four of his game high six goals in the first three chukkers, converting three penalty shots and scoring once from the field. Team captain Scott Devon scored the other first half goal for Catamount.
Donovan led the first half Isla Carroll scoring with two goals. Shane Rice added a penalty goal and Sugar Erskine scored once from the field.
As Isla Carroll continued to press the Catamount players, however, foul trouble halted any offensive threats and gave Catamount penalty scoring opportunities.
Fourth chukker action began with a goal from the field from Devon, followed by consecutive penalty conversions by Brandon Phillips and Roldan.
Isla Carroll answered with goals from Donovan and Shane Rice (penalty shot), but Catamount closed out the scoring in the period with a penalty conversion from Roldan to make it 9-6, Catamount.
Devon scored his third goal of the game in the fifth period before Rice dribbled a loose ball through the goal to get Isla Carroll on the scoreboard. Drives up and down the field by both teams resulted in stellar defensive efforts before Todd Offen’s goal gave Catamount an 11-7 edge.
“The team worked hard,” said Offen, the game’s MVP. “We’ve been working hard,” he added, “and it paid off for us.”
Two goals from Brandon Phillips gave Catamount a 13-7 lead as Isla Carroll fought valiantly to get back into the game, but it was not to be. Time and again the Catamount players made brilliant defensive shots to thwart any offensive drive Isla Carroll might try to mount.
With time expiring, Donovan managed to sneak a goal through the posts for the final 13-8 win.
“It’s a very special tournament for me,” said Catamount’s Devon, “and the fact that I got to win it with good friends made it even sweeter.”
Isla Carroll’s John Goodman expressed disappointment after losing the match.
“It’s just a good solid team (Catamount),” he said, “but I’m just disappointed to win because of Joe (Barry).”
The Joe Barry Memorial Cup was dedicated to a player who dominated polo in the 1960s and 1970s, winning six United States Open championships and a host of others on his way to the Polo Hall of Fame. He also coached the Isla Carroll team to an Open Championship.
Catamount’s Todd Offen was named MVP while Brandon Phillips horse Fiji was named the Best Playing Pony.
High goal competition will continue on Wednesday at 3pm with the opening match of the 2008 Ylvisaker Cup. The contest will see Bendabout making its first appearance of the season against Pony Express, featuring 10-goaler Matias Magrini.
In an earlier exhibition match to benefit the British Forces Foundation, the United Kingdom team, led by three goals from Michael Liss scored a 9-6 win over the USA.
Gillian Johnston, Luis Escobar and Chris Gannon each scored two goals for the USA, while Nacho Figueras and Adrian Wade’s two goals apiece and a single goal from Mark Cann rounded out the UK scoring.