In a battle of the undefeated UAE (HH Sheikha Maitha Al Maktoum, Jack Richardson, Lucas Monteverde and Pablo MacDonough) got an early leg up on El Remanso (Ali Paterson, George Hanbury, Pelon Stirling and Guillermo Terrera) in the 2013 Veuve Clicquot British Open for the Gold Cup at Cowdray Park. Outscoring El Remanso 4-2 in the opening chukker, the combination of Lucas Monteverde and 10-goaler Pablo MacDonough tried to build up a cushion in the early going.
Lucchese team captain, John Muse
El Remanso proved to be up to the challenge, however with a strong second chukker of play. A reversal of fortune saw El Remanso 10-goaler Pelon Stirling lead a charge that put four goals on the scoreboard in the second while limiting UAE to a pair of goals of their own. After two periods of play it was all even at 6-6.
Both teams played evenly through the third chukker, matching one another goal for goal. At the end of the first half the score was deadlocked at 8-8.
A re-energized UAE team took the field in the fourth chukker, scoring three consecutive goals. A stunned El Remanso foursome could only watch as Pablo MacDonough and Lucas Monteverde powered UAE to an 11-8 lead.
A determined El Remanso returned to the battle in the fifth and sixth chukkers, outscoring UAE 8-2 and riding off with the 16-13 victory.
The win gives El Remanso a perfect 3-0 record while the loss was UAE’s first in three outings, 2-1.
LUCCHESE 9, EMLOR 8
The Emlor (Spencer McCarthy, Joaquin Pittaluga, Diego Cavanagh and Nacho Gonzalez) Lucchese (John Muse, Mark Tomlinson, Javier Novillo Astrada and Jaime Huidobro) match won’t be the brother versus brother matchup many had anticipated with Mark Tomlinson playing for Lucchese and brother Luke Tomlinson playing for Emlor. Luke Tomlinson hasn’t recovered from a kick he received just beneath the kneecap last week and was replaced in the lineup by Diego Cavanagh.
Tentative play in the first chukker allowed for each team to register a goal as both sides were looking to establish a playing rhythm. After the first chukker it was tied at 1-1.
In a non-productive second chukker, Emlor managed the only goal of the chukker and crept ahead, 2-1.
Lucchese and Emlor efforts finally began to pay off for them. Lucchese scored twice in the third chukker while Emlor put up three goals. At the end of the first half Emlor moved ahead, 5-3.
In an uneventful fourth chukker, the two teams exchanged single goals. With two chukkers left to play, Emlor continues to lead by two goals, 6-4.
The Lucchese offense came alive in the fifth chukker. Three Lucchese goals were countered by a single Emlor score. After five periods of play, the score was tied at 7-7.
Lucchese completed their late game rally, breaking the 7-7 tie and riding on to score two goals in a 9-8 win.
The victory was the first for Lucchese who improved their record to 1-2 while Emlor suffered their third consecutive loss.
British Open play continues on Saturday with two matches. In the 3PM contest Cortium (0-2) will face Talandracas (1-1) followed by a 5PM showdown between Sumaya (2-0) and Thai Polo (0-2).