Crab Orchard Rallies Past Lechuza Caracas 12-10 to Capture USPA Piaget Gold Cup Title Sunday at International Polo Club

WELLINGTON, FL (March 25, 2007) – It was unfamiliar territory for Crab Orchard, trailing through four chukkers for the first time in the tournament, but Adolfo Cambiaso scored five goals in the second half to lead them to a 12-10 victory over Lechuza Caracas in the final of the USPA Piaget Gold Cup Sunday on Stanford Field at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Crab Orchard: Matias Magrini, George Rawlings, David Stirling, Adolfo Cambiaso
MVP Adolfo Cambiaso
BPP "Norwega" O/R Adolfo Cambiaso

Crab Orchard had dominated the tournament prior to the final, building huge first-half leads and coasting to victory.

Lechuza Caracas won many of the throw-ins and used a relentless attack to build a 7-5 halftime advantage and 8-7 through four chukkers.
“We had three plays that changed the game in the fifth chukker,” said Lechuza Caracas captain Pite Merlos.

The first occurred in the opening minute when Cambiaso blocked a 40-yard penalty shot.

Crab Orchard scored the next two goals, both by Cambiaso, to take a 9-8 lead with 3:50 remaining in the fifth – its first lead since 1-0 at the beginning of the game. Crab Orchard never trailed again, leading 12-9 on Cambiaso’s neck shot with 1:40 remaining.

Cambiaso and 9-goaler Matias Magrini have won 17 of 18 games this season at International Polo Club, including the last seven in a row. They have also been teammates on the last two championship USPA Gold Cup teams, leading New Bridge La Dolfina to the 2006 crown in Aiken, South Carolina.

“I thought it would be a close game,” said Magrini. “We have been winning by so many goals.

“In the beginning, there was too much room between Adolfo and myself. Pelon (David Stirling Jr.) and I started out playing badly and Sebastian (Merlos) was playing unbelieveable. I’m happy to win.”

Sebastian Merlos led Lechuza Caracas (4-2) with five goals while Pite Merlos finished with four goals. Jeff Blake added one goal and patron Victor Vargas did not score.

“It was a very tough game and they are a wonderful team,” said Vargas. “We were here and we played hard.” Pite Merlos agreed with his patron.
“La Lechuza played hard, we were pushing them every single minute,”
said Merlos. “It’s a great team.”

Crab Orchard patron George Rawlings praised his opponents.
“They played the smartest game anyone played against us,” said Rawlings. “This feels wonderful. Lechuza Caracas is one of the best teams in the world. This win rewards all the hard work and the good horses.”
Rawlings said the team has dedicated the season in memory of his mother and Cambiaso’s mother-in-law, who each passed away recently.

Cambiaso finished with a team-high six goals and was named the Most Valuable Player. Stirling Jr. scored four goals while Magrini and Rawlings added one goal apiece.

Fourteen teams entered the 26-goal USPA Piaget Gold Cup, the second of the Big Three tournaments at International Polo Club Palm Beach. The USPA Piaget Gold Cup, which began in 1974, is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the United States and is in first season at International Polo Club.

The high-goal season enters the home stretch as the Stanford U.S. Open, the most prestigious tournament in North America, begins on Friday.
The polo matches at International Polo Club are open to the public. General admission for the Sunday games at International Polo Club Palm Beach is $15 for adults. Children under 3 enter for free. Tickets may be purchased at the gate on the day of the game or in advance at the stadium box office.

Major sponsors at International Polo Club Palm Beach for the 2007 season include Stanford Private Wealth Management, Piaget, Bombardier Aerospace, Bessemer Trust, Westwind Realty, LLC, Panera Bread, Cartier, CityPlace, Florida Coast Equipment, The Mall at Wellington Green, Omar Trevino Bloodstock, Inc., Palm Beach Daily News, Palm Beach Illustrated, Palm Beach Post, Ritz Carlton Palm Beach, Roederer Estates, The Wellington Institute, Van Cleef & Arpels, Yamana Gold Inc. and Jim Corbin Illustrated Properties.

International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South, between Pierson Road and Lake Worth Road in Wellington. For information, directions or ticket purchases, please call the club at (561) 204-5687 or visit the website at www.internationalpoloclub.com.

Past USPA Piaget Gold Cup Champions

2007 – Crab Orchard
2006 – New Bridge La Dolfina
2005 – Millarville
2004 – White Birch
2003 – White Birch
2002 – White Birch
2001 – Boca Polo
2000 – Isla Carroll
1999 – Outback
1998 – White Birch
1997 – White Birch
1996 – White Birch
1995 – Ellerston White
1994 – Michelob
1993 – Cellular One
1992 – Revlon
1991 – Cellular One
1990 – Les Diables Bleus
1989 – White Birch
1988 – White Birch
1987 – White Birch
1986 – White Birch
1985 – Chasqui
1984 – White Birch
1983 – White Birch
1982 – Boehm
1981 – Boca Raton
1980 – Retama
1979 – Retama
1978 – Abercrombie & Kent
1977 – Lone Oak
1976 – Willow Bend
1975 – Tulsa-Dallas
1974 – Milwaukee

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