By Alex Webbe
Power Horse scored three unanswered goals in the final chukker of the game to down Audi 11-9 in the finals of the 2011 Spring Classic Sunday morning at the Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington.
The match got off to a slow start with Lucas Lalor converting a penalty shot for Audi’s first goal of the game. Sugar Erskine responded with a goal from the field for Power Horse and the first chukker ended in a 1-1 tie.
Lalor added two more penalty goals in the second frame and England’s Jack Mann broke through the Power Horse defenses to score on a well-placed shot from nearly 60-yards out. Power Horse got single goals from Marc Ganzi and J. J. Celis but trailed 3-2 after two.
Power Horse took control of the match in the third, shutting out the Audi offense and scoring three consecutive goals for a 6-4 halftime lead. Marc Ganzi scored once from the field and one on a penalty shot. Erskine added the other goal for Power Horse.
Goals from Juan Bollini and Lucas Lalor in the fourth tied it at 6-6, but Marc Ganzi scored the tie breaker to make it 7-6 and Erskine gave Power Horse a two goal lead, 8-6, with his third goal of the game.
Bollini led the charge in the fifth chukker, scoring three straight goals while the Audi defense held Power Horse scoreless. Audi led 9-8 with one chukker left to play.
Just as Audi had controlled the fifth Power Horse took the reins in the sixth chukker. Erskine scored his fourth goal of the game to even it up at 9-9 before Marc Ganzi scored twice for the 11-9 win.
Marc Ganzi was named MVP for his efforts while Main Attraction, a 15-year-old Grey gelding owned by Melissa Ganzi and ridden by Martin Adcock, received Best Playing Pony Honors.
ELANGENI RANCH 7, NEWPORT 6
Elangeni Ranch scored a narrow 7-6 win over Newport in the consolation round of the 2011 Spring Classic.
Martin Adcock scored e first goal of the game on a brilliant hit and run play that had the visiting English Wing Commander weaving his way through three defenders to score. Moments later, Elangeni Ranch got on the scoreboard with a goal from Diego Coscio.
Joey Casey gave Elangeni Ranch a 3-1 lead scoring once from the field and once on a penalty shot while Newport was unable to score.
Newport bounced back in the third with a pair of goals from Chris Nevins while Elangeni Ranch had trouble finding the goal. The teams left the field at the end of the first half in a 3-3 deadlock.
Although the pace of play continued to escalate, neither team was able to find the goal range in the fourth chukker, and they entered the fifth still knotted up at 3-3.
Both offenses got warmed up again in the fifth, with Elangeni ranch getting goals from Coscio and Juan Chavanne while Newport got single scores from Gene Goldstein and Hector Galindo.
After five chukkers of play, the teams were all even at 5-5.
Casey broke the logjam with a goal from the field in the final chukker followed by a successful penalty conversion for a 7-5 lead. Newport fought back, picking up a second gal from Goldstein and was poised to press for the tying goal when time ran out and Elangeni Ranch celebrated a 7-6 victory.
Gene Goldstein was named MVP for both offensive and defensive contributions I n the Newport effort while Estrella, a 13-year-old Chestnut mare took Best Playing Pony honors.
PONY EXPRESS 7, GRAND CHAMPIONS 6
Two last chukker goals led Pony Express to a 7-6, come-from-behind win over a talented Grand Champions foursome Sunday afternoon in the final consolation match of the 2011 Spring Classic.
Grand Champions scored three times in the opening chukker to take a 3-2 advantage with Whistle Uys scoring twice and Alex Hawes adding a single goal. Pony Express answered with goals from team captain Bob Daniels and Francisco Ayala.
Alex Hawes added two more goals to the Grand Champions total with Bob Daniels scoring the only Pony Express goal of the period. After two chukkers of play, Grand Champions led 5-3.
The pace began to slow down in the third chukker defensive efforts by both sides making their mark. Ayala managed to poke the ball through the Grand Champions goal posts as time expired. The Grand Champions lead was cut to a single goal, 5-4.
Tommy Biddle made a great individual effort to score in the fourth, but it would be the only offense either team would be able to muster. The fifth chukker began with Grand Champions on top, 6-4.
Pony Express stormed the Grand Champions goal area throughout the fifth period attack with Tomas Goti finally breaking through to score, and the period ended.
With one chukker to play, Grand Champions would be called upon to hold back the invigorated Pony Express attack.
It was British Major Mark Cann who finally led the way for the Pony Express offense. After just missing on a number of earlier efforts, Cann picked up the ball nearly 170 yards from the Grand Champions goal, carried it down the field and scored the tying goal, 6-6. Moments later Ayala sealed the deal with his third goal of the game for the 7-6 win.