By Alex Webbe
Thirty penalties were meted out Sunday morning in the semifinals of the George Haas Cup (the subsidiary of the Ylvisaker Cup) at the International Polo Club in Wellington as MetalTek held on for an 11-9 win over a persistent Heathcote team to earn a berth in the finals.
Argentine 9-goaler Sebastian Merlos opened the scoring for MetalTek with a goal from the field followed by a pair of goals from teammate Carlucho Arellano (one from the field and one on a penalty conversion). Heathcote’s Tommy Biddle converted a 40-yard penalty shot, but trailed 3-1.
Second chukker action saw Arellano add two more goals to the growing MetalTek total with Merlos adding a penalty goal for a 6-2 lead. Biddle scored the lone Heathcote goal on another penalty shot.
Heathcote coordinate its attack in the opening minutes of the third with Lucas Monteverde and Nick Manifold each scoring a goal from the field while Biddle added a 60-yard penalty conversion. Arellano responded with a penalty goal of his own and Merlos scored his third goal of the day for an 8-5 halftime lead.
The pace became more measured in the second half with scoring limited to single penalty goals from Heathcote’s Biddle and MetalTek’s Arellano. MetalTek continued to lead, 9-6.
Another 60-yard penalty conversion from Biddle was all the offense Heathcote could muster in the fifth. Will Johnston scored MetalTek’s sole goal of the period from the field. The three goal MetalTek lead held at 10-7 after five chukkers.
MetalTek received its final goal of the day on a shot from the field from Merlos. Heathcote picked up two more penalty goals from Biddle, but it was MetalTek who would take the day with the 11-9 win.
Heathcote’s Biddle led all scoring with seven goals. Monteverde and Manifold scored single goals in the loss.
Arellano set the pace for MetalTek with six goals. Merlos added four goals to the mix and Johnston scored once.