By Alex Webbe
In the most exciting match of the season, a strong team from Mexico scored a 16-15 win over the United States in Camacho Cup play Friday afternoon at The Villages Polo Club in Central Florida.
Playing without 9-goaler Mike Azzaro (broken collarbone), Jeff Hall (8), Nick Roldan (8) or Adam Snow (8), the United States had to rely on the talents of Tommy Biddle (7), Kris Kampsen (6), Carlucho Arellano (5) and John Gobin (5) to make the USA proud, and they certainly did that.
Neither the appearance of Sara Ferguson, the Duchess of York nor the high-kicking Tampa Bay Buccaneer’s cheerleaders could distract a polo hungry audience from a game that will be remembered as a classic in the annuls of international polo history.
The US team was spotted two goals by handicap (a number agreed upon by both teams) but got a shot in the arm in the opening minute of play when Biddle broke through the Mexican team, carrying the ball over half of the length of the field for a goal. Goals from Arellano and Kampsen were answered by a single penalty conversion by Carlos Gracida, and the teams left the field after the opening chukker with the US on top of a 5-1 lead.
Julio Gracida got on the scoreboard for Mexico in the second chukker with a goal, followed by goals from Gobin and Arellano as the United States polo team took a 7-2 lead.
“Julio and I were a little nervous in the opening chukkers,” said Escapite. “Our horses were flat and we just weren’t in the game.”
Following a beautiful save in front of the US goal in the third chukker by Biddle, Carlos Gracida converted a second penalty shot and quickly added another from the field. Biddle came back with his second goal of the game before Escapite cut the US lead to three goals at the end of the first half, 8-5.
“We changed the lineup a bit for the second half,” said Mexico’s coach, Ruben Gracida, a member of the two previously successful Mexican teams. “We moved Julio (Gracida) forward and told both he and Pelon (Escapite) to push the front end and allow Memo and Carlos to work in the middle.”
The switch worked for Mexico immediately. Following a penalty by the USA (a bump behind the saddle) and ensuing penalty conversion by Carlos Gracida, Escapite scored again followed by a goal from the field from Carlos Gracida that tied the game at 8-8.
Gobin punched the ball through the goal posts to put the United States ahead 9-8, but it would be a short-lived advantage.
Mexico came right back with Escapite’s third goal of the game to even it again at 9-9. Carlos Gracida added another goal from the field for a 10-9 edge. With time running out in the fourth chukker, Biddle scored his third goal of the game to end the period tied at 10-10.
A record crowd of over 4,000 fans cheered the action as attack after attack was waged up and down the center of the field.
Biddle continued his brilliant performance by scoring the first goal of the fifth chukker. Arellano took the following throw-in 150 yards for a goal and the United States had a 12-10 led.
Julio Gracida and Biddle exchanged goals followed by two more penalty conversions from Carlos Gracida and the teams left the field in a 13-13 deadlock.
“I didn’t know if we were ahead or behind,” said a very tired Carlos Gracida after the game. I was forced to work very hard today,” he added, “they are a very good team.”
Kampsen put the United States ahead with a single goal in the sixth chukker but Carlos Gracida came right back and tied it at 14-14. Carlos Gracida added another goal on a penalty shot putting Mexico ahead 15-14 before Arellano evened it again at 15-15 with a couple of minutes to play.
Gobin stole the ball from Memo Gracida in the Mexican end of the field and headed toward the goal from 70 yards out when a miscue left the ball behind him. Memo Gracida jumped on it and carried it down the field toward the US goal. Gobin cam up with the ball once again and attempted to pass it across the goalmouth toward Biddle. A waiting Memo Gracida intercepted the pass, and with 48 seconds on the game clock carried it toward the goal where he scored for the 16-15 Mexican victory.
“If we just had a couple of faster horses toward the end,” said Gobin following the match. “We left everything we had on the field,” he added, and there wasn’t a person in the crowd who felt differently. Eight top notch players gave it their all for six chukkers of the most exciting polo in the history of The Villages Polo Club that earned them a standing ovation.
Carlos Gracida led all scoring with ten goals (six on penalty shots). Escapite scored three times, Julio Gracida scored twice and Memo Gracida added the final goal for the win.
Biddle led the United States with six goals. Arellano scored three times and Kampsen and Gobin added two goals apiece. The US got two goals by handicap.
Arellano’s 6-year-old mare Java was named Best Playing Pony while Carlos Gracida was named MVP.