By Alex Webbe
In a choppy game that was tied no less than seven times, Santiago Chavanne scored the winning goal on a penalty shot with 13 seconds left in regulation play to lead Mt. Brilliant to a 10-9 win over Patagones in the finals of the 2009 Ylvisaker Cup at the International Polo Club at Wellington.
“We needed to slow the game down,” said Mt. Brilliant coach Julian Hipwood, “and we had the right guy (8-goaler Santiago Chavanne) to do it.”
The concern was over the superior horsepower of the Patagones team and the leadership of polo legend Carlos Gracida.
Opening goals were scored by Mt. Brilliant’s Santiago Chavanne and Julian Daniels in the first chukker. It wasn’t until the second period that Patagones got on the scoreboard on a penalty shot from Julio Gracida.
Carlos Gracida got things going for Patagones in the third chukker scoring three times while Mt. Brilliant was held to a single goal. After a penalty-laden first half, Patagones left the field with a narrow 4-3 lead.
Mt. Brilliant returned to the field in the fourth chukker with Mariano Obregon replacing 6-goaler Julian Daniels who entered the game with a sore elbow. It was revealed later that Daniels had suffered some ligament damage and was listed as day to day.
Carlos Gracida opened the fourth period with a flourish. Taking the ball from the lineout, Carlos carried the ball 150 yards through the goal posts, stroking it on the left side of his pony for the last seventy yards with an opposing player on his hip.
Moments later. Chavanne converted another penalty shot to trail Patagones 5-4.
Defense was the word of the day in the fifth period with the only goals being scored coming on penalty shots. Carlos Gracida converted for Patagones and Chavanne converting two penalty shots for Mt. Brilliant to tie it at 6-6.
The scoring went back and forth in the final chukker of play with Patagones scoring on single goals from the field coming from Gonzalo Avendano, Julio Gracida and Carlos Avendano. Mt. Brilliant countered with a goal from Pelon Escapite and two goals from the substituting Mariano Obregon to knot it up at 9-9.
“I was ready to play,” said Obregon, who was pulled from the polo stands to replace the injured Daniels. “I had never played Back (No. 4) before, but I was comfortable in the lineup.”
With just over 13 seconds left to play, the whistle sounded in the Patagones’ half of the field. Chavanne teed the ball up and converted it for the 10-9 win.
Santiago Chavanne led all scoring with six goals. Mariano Obregon scored twice and Pelon Escapite and Julian Daniels added single goals in the win.
Carlos Gracida scored five times for Patagones. Julio Gracida added two goals. Single goals were scored by Gonzalo and Carlos Avendano.
Pelon Escapite was named MVP while Santiago Chavanne’s black mare Afgana was named Best Playing Pony.
LECHUZA CARACAS CAPTURES GEORGE HAAS CUP
Lechuza Caracas rallied from a 9-8 deficit to score two unanswered goals to capture the 2009 George Haas Cup at the International Polo Club.
Relying on a balanced attack, Lechuza Caracas jumped out to an early 3-1 lead with single goals coming from Nicolas Espain, Guille Aguero and Victor Vargas. EFG Bank was held to a single penalty goal from Julio Arellano.
The teams scored two goals apiece in the second chukker, with Lechuza holding on to its two-goal lead.
EFG Bank shut out the Lechuza attack for the first time in the third chukker but managed only a single goal from Luis Escobar, to trail 5-4 at halftime.
A reinvigorated EFG Bank team returned in the fourth chukker. Julio Arellano accounted for four goals and Luis Escobar added another goal as they rode off to a 9-7 lead. Single goals from Santiago Toccalino and Espain accounted for all of the Lechuza scoring.
Defense ruled the fifth period as both teams carried the ball up and down the field only to be denied. A single goal from Lechuza’s Espain cut the EFG lead to 9-8 to end the chukker.
“The team was playing well,” said Victor Vargas, and we felt good going into the final chukker. We all felt like it was our game to win.”
Neither team was able to break through the stifling defenses until Lechuza team captain Victor Vargas notched a well-placed shot through the EFG goal posts to tie it at 9-9. EFG fought back to regain its lead, but it was Vargas who scored the winning goal in the 10-9 victory.
Julio Arellano led all scoring with six goals. Luis Escobar added three goals.
Nicolas Espain led the Lechuza attack with four goals. Victor Vargas scored three times. Santiago Toccalino added two goals and Guille Aguero scored once in the win.
Victor Vargas was named MVP while Seneca, ridden by Whistle Uys, won Best Playing Pony honors.
High goal polo will continue with play in the Philip Iglehart Cup on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 11am between Audi and Lucchese followed by a 3pm tournament game between San Saba and BTA.