The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
Alegria/Valiente came from down under as they trailed by 4 at the half. They did not show much team effort, but it was only 1/2 way and Coach Macho Man Julio Zavaleta, who has been here often, set them on a new path. I guess because it one chukkar it was a brand new game. They were tied in the fifth and went up with 2.20 to go in the 5th. Klentner Ranch was not done and came back and had a lot of chances to get the lead back, but could just not close the door. Julian Mannix made a unreal play to put A/V up for good win an amazing goal in the SE corner of field. He squeezed, maybe even fouled as he headed to goal and with 7 people in his way. Looked a bit like Adolfo Cambiaso and drove it home for the goal. Both teams played well and both had a big chance to Win. Klentner missed 6 of 7 #4’s and that really hurts. The speed was as you would expect with six players under 25 years of age. They are going to run and they did. The umpires were at least seeing the game as a speed game. The calls may have been a bit different, but an improvement. So well done to Alegria/Valiente … they are a two Patron team that makes it to the final in the PCO. It has been a while. A special thanks to JZ who made it happen.
Game two: Lucchese vs Wildcats. It looked like a mismatch from the start, but it was better even though it was so LONG. You think about it a Polo game is a little over 69 minutes if all played without a stop including 1/2 time and 4, 4 minute period changes. This one was 123 minutes with no major injuries, the no call and analyzing and replays this is not where we are headed it is the door to death. We see the problem in football replay and we magnify it by 10 times. It is so important and it is not like they come to see sports … they want to be seen. We must become professional and with the new super drone shots we should be. These decisions should be seen and evaluated in seconds, not by committee. Anyway, the game was much better than I anticipated and it may well have been for all the rest time. Players had plenty of break and horses had a lot of breathers, they probably could have played 1/2 of the horses and saved rest for finals.
Lucchese was dominant from the get go. They were challenged in the 4th, but it was also a herd of fouls to make it that way. Wildcats made it close going to the 6th, but it was Jeff Hall making it a runaway in the 6th. Lucchese kept the heat on and walked away with maybe ther 6th straight PCO finals appearance since 2009. Not sure may have missed a year. The finals will be at 2 pm on Sun. It will be fast. There will be 2 people on the field over thirty years of age. One is 7 goals and other is a Patron.
WELL DONE ROBERT J/JULIAN M AND JOHN M
SEE YA SUNDAY