Sometimes it takes a little mixture of experience and youth, as La Herradura found out Thursday afternoon in a semifinal match of the 20-goal Bobby Barry Cup when they tore apart a Goose Creek team, 14-6 at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
With twenty-seven-year-old Marianito Obregon substituting for the injured Jose Donoso (knee bruise), La Herradura shaved twelve years off of the age of the team and added a young 7-goaler to their lineup. Alvaro Fernandez at 44, and returning at Back, cut an additional twenty-two years off of the roster (his brother Alberto Fernandez had been playing with the team at age 66), and the crisp passing of Carlos and Memo Gracida set the pace for the day.
“<Marianito played very well for us today,” offered Memo Gracida. “It’s always good to have a quick, young, talented player at the front end of the lineup,” he added. “He played very well for us today.”
La Herradura took immediate control of the game, ringing up five consecutive goals in the first chukker while holding Goose Creek scoreless. Memo Gracida scored the first goal of the game with Marianito Obregon and Carlos Gracida adding two goals apiece for the 5-0 lead.
Goose Creek showed some life in the opening minutes of the second period with Luis Escobar scoring twice and cutting the La Herradura lead to three goals, 5-2. Memo Gracida and Obregon closed out the chukker with single goals, and La Herradura left the field with a commanding 7-2 advantage.
The third period was no kinder to Goose Creek. Obregon was on a tear, scoring two goals and setting up Carlos Gracida with a goal on a picture-perfect pass. At the end of the first half La Herradura was enjoying an eight goal, 10-2 advantage.
“I looked up at halftime and we were ahead by eight goals,” said Memo Gracida. “At that point you just want to save your horses and not get anyone hurt. “After all,” he said, “we have to play the finals on Sunday.”
Goose Creek picked up single gals from Kris Kampsen (penalty conversion) and Escobar in the fourth while limiting La Herradura to a single penalty goal from Carlos Gracida. La Herradura continued to lead, 11-4.
Goals were hard to come by in the fifth chukker. The only goal of the period was scored by Obregon with less than two minutes left in the chukker. The La Herradura was back to eight goals, 12-4.
A goal from tommy Biddle in the sixth period was followed by another penalty conversion from Kampsen, but that was when the Goose Creek attack stalled. Single goals from the field from Obregon and Carlos Gracida ended the chukker and the game with La Herradura capturing the victory, 14-6.
Marianito Obregon led all scoring with seven goals on the day, one on a penalty shot. Carlos Gracida scored five times with two coming on penalty conversions. Memo Gracida added two goals in the La Herradura victory. Luis Escobar scored three goals for Goose Creek. Kris Kampsen added two penalty goals and Tommy Biddle was credited with a goal in a losing effort.
La Herradura will return to the field again on Sunday where they will play the winner of Friday’s Valiente vs. Lechuza Caracas game in the Bobby Barry Cup final.