By Alex Webbe
Bendabout took the field like world beaters Sunday afternoon in the opening chukkers of the finals of the Iglehart Cup at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
After a 1-1 first chukker that had both teams looking for weaknesses in their opponents, Bendabout launched itself ahead of Mt. Brilliant with three second period goals from Lucas Criado that gave Bendabout a 4-2 lead after two. Nic Roldan’s sole penalty shot accounted for all of Mt. Brilliant’s second chukker offense.
Gillian Johnston scored her second goal of the match in third chukker action to put Bendabout ahead, 5-2. Mike Azzaro scored for Mt. Brilliant, cutting the Bendabout lead to 5-3 as the first half ended.
After an informative halftime pep talk from Julian Hipwood, Mt. Brilliant’s veteran coach, a refocused Mt. Brilliant team took the field in the fourth chukker, putting immediate pressure on the Bendabout defense.
“I didn’t want the team mounting attacks up the center of the field,” said Hipwood, “I wanted them to take it down the field along the side of the field. I didn’t want the other team to be able to take advantage of a miscue by us to turn defense into attack,” said the former 9-goaler. I
“It appeared to work,” he smiled.
“We talked about finishing our plays,” said Mt. Brilliant team captain Bo Goodman about the halftime discussion under the Mt. Brilliant team tent. “We had opportunities early in the game, but we just didn’t finish our plays.”
A goal from Ulysses Escapite cut the Bendabout lead to a single goal, 5-4, but was followed by a 40-yard penalty shot from Chris Nevins. Although Bendabout held a 6-4 lead, the momentum was about to shift.
Following Nevins’ goal, Mt. Brilliant rattled off four unanswered goals of its own, getting three from Roldan and a single goal from Azzaro. The momentum had shifted, and Mt. Brilliant left the field with an 8-6 advantage.
Mt. Brilliant continued to dominating play in the fifth chukker, shutting down the Bendabout offense and adding goals from Azzaro and Roldan. With seven minutes left to play, Mt. Brilliant held a 10-6 lead.
Johnston’s third goal of the game was followed by a goal from Nevins, cutting the score to 10-8 when Mt. Brilliant re-exerted itself. Miserly defense and a final goal from Escapite ended the game in an 11-8 Mt. Brilliant victory.
Nic Roldan led all scoring with six goals and was named MVP for his efforts. Tulsa, Roldan’s eight-year-old brown mare was named Best Playing Pony.
The surprise of the afternoon might have been the play of Mt. Brilliant’s injured 8-goaler, Mike Azzaro, who suffered a bone chilling fall just days earlier.
Bruised from ankle to elbow, and in a great deal of pain, Azzaro took to the field and turned in a truly heroic effort.
“I think Mike’s (Azzaro) Doctor should have been named MVP today,” joked IPC’s Director of Polo Operations, Jimmy Newman. Newman was referring to the fact that Azzaro, who was supposed to be sidelined for up to three weeks, played just two days after his fall.
“It’s just very painful,” said Azzaro following the match, “that’s all I can say. “If it weren’t for my doctor, I don’t know what I’d do,” Azzaro said. “He’s a miracle worker.”