Alex Webbe
The final preliminary round of the 2008 USPA Piaget Gold Cup at the International Polo Club in Wellington ended with Bendabout scoring a 10-9 win over Las Monjitas in a game that had five Astrada brothers on the field.
Brothers Negro (7) and Miguel (10) joined Gillian Johnston (1) and Mariano Gonzalez (8) on the Bendabout team while brothers Eduardo (9), Javier (9) and Nacho (8) played for Camilo Bautista’s Las Monjitas foursome. (Twenty-six-year-old Grant Mayer from Boulder, Colorado replaced an absent Camilo Bautista for the game).
In a close contest that had Las Monjitas ahead 6-5 at halftime and tied at 7-7 after the fourth, the match took on another life just three minutes into the fifth chukker. While vehemently arguing an umpire’s call, Eduardo Astrada received two red cards (for misconduct), and was ordered off the field for the remaining four minutes of the period.
Playing four on three, Bendabout was able to score three unanswered goals and ride into the final chukker of play with a 10-7 advantage.
Goals from Eduardo and Javier Astrada brought Las Monjitas to within a goal, but the game would end with Bendabout on top, 10-9.
Ten-goaler Miguel Astrada scored three goals for Bendabout with brother Negro Astrada accounting for two more. Mariano Gonzalez led the team with four goals. Team captain Gillian Johnston scored once in the win.
Las Monjitas scoring was led by Javier Astrada with four goals. Brother Nacho Astrada scored twice and Eduardo Astrada scored three times.
Four quarterfinal games have been scheduled for Sunday, with Crab Orchard meeting Zacara at 10am. Two noon contests will have Isla Carroll against Las Monjitas and Skeeterville taking on Pony Express; and Bendabout will play Black Watch at 3pm.