By Alex Webbe
Audi battled a talented Isla Carroll team for six chukkers before riding off with a 7-6 win in the finals of the 2008 Pedro Morrison Memorial Cup at the Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington Wednesday afternoon.
“It was a tough game,” admitted Audi’s Juan Bollini, “we couldn’t let down for a minute.”
Stevie Orthwein opened the scoring for Audi in the first chukker, but was countered by a penalty conversion from Isla Carroll’s Leo Mandelbaum before the end of the chukker.
John Gobin put Audi on top, 2-1, in the second chukker. Hector Galindo tied it for Isla Carroll at 2-2 with his first goal of the game before goals from Orthwein and Melissa Ganzi ended the chukker with single goals to put Audi in front 4-2.
The Isla Carroll defense tightened with Mandelbaum accounting for another goal to bring then within a goal of Audi with a 4-3 halftime score.
Both teams struggled to get through their opposition’s defense in the fourth period. Single goals from Mandelbaum and Gobin kept the margin at one goal with Audi holding the 5-4 advantage.
Mandelbaum accounted for his fourth goal of the game in the fifth chukker as the Isla Carroll defense shut down the Audi offense, and the score was tied at 5-5 with one chukker left to play.
Leo Mandelbaum added his fifth goal in the final chukker, putting Isla Carroll ahead with five minutes left to play, that was when Audi took back the reins. Two goals from John Gobin and a resilient defense sealed the deal for Audi who took the game and the cup in a 7-6 contest.
”It was a really hard fought game,” said Melissa Ganzi, reflecting on the narrow win. “Everyone played so well today, it was a lot of fun.”
Leo Mandelbaum led all scoring with five goals. Teammate Hector Galindo added a single goal in the loss.
John Gobin’s four goals led the Audi attack. Stevie Orthwein chipped in two scores and Melissa Ganzi added a goal in the win.
GTP 11, NEWPORT 6
In the consolation match of the tournament, GTP took advantage of four goals by handicap and four goals from team captain Marc Ganzi in scoring an 11-6 win over Newport.
With Luis Escobar (7) replacing Cali Garcia (3) of the Newport team, GTP found itself starting the match with four goals by handicap against a 19-goal team.
Newport’s Gene Goldstein scored the only goal of the first chukker with teammate Mauricio Devrient adding two goals from the field in the second frame.
GTP added single goals in the second and third periods from Ganzi while shutting out the Newport attack in the third. GTP left the field at the half ahead 6-3.
Newport rallied in the fourth chukker with two goals from Justo Saavedra while holding GTP scoreless, trailing by a single goal, 6-5, after four.
The fifth chukker was all GTP. Goals from Tommy Biddle, Tommy Collingwood and Marc Ganzi moved GTP out to a commanding 9-5 lead, as Newport was unable to get on the scoreboard.
Sixth chukker goals from Collingwood and Ganzi pushed the GTP total to eleven goals, as Newport was unable to finish several attacks. Saavedra’s third goal of the game was Newport’s only score of the chukker as GTP took the contest 11-6.
Ganzi led all scoring with four goals. Tommy Collingwood added two goals and Biddle scored once to compliment his pinpoint passing and hard hitting drives.
Saavedra led the attack for Newport with three goals. Mauricio Devrient added two goals and Gene Goldstein scored once in the loss.