Rancho Santa Fe, CA (June 22, 2009) – With the memory of one week ago, when an Opening Day lead of three goals vanished in the second half, and an overtime win becoming necessary to qualify for the final, Chris Collins and Chris Maloney’s Southwind/Tri Tech foursome were not about to let a good lead disappear again – although it appeared for a while in the third chukker that it could happen again – and they went on to win the 2009 Chris Hoyman Memorial Cup at the San Diego Polo Club.
Giving up one to Kelly Maloney and Joy Bancroft’s Ohana/Star Meadow on handicap and after the initial throw-in by Congressman Darrell Issa, the Chrises led 3 – 1 after one and 5 – 2 after the second and it appeared that a rout might be on.
Not quite as Graham Bray and Danny Juarez got going in the third and the Maloney/Bancroft quartet drew to within a pair at the half (6-4) on a Juarez goal in the final 30 seconds.
The fourth, however, was all Southwind/Tri Tech, with Gaston von Wernich’s pin-point passing and Jesse Bray’s stellar play, as they took a commanding 10 -4 lead and the result was never in doubt from that point on with a final score of 12 – 8 in favor of the Chrises.
For the Hoyman winners, von Wernich and Jesse Bray scored four each with Chris Maloney (2 fouls) and Collins (1 foul) supplying a pair apiece.
Juarez and Kelly Maloney (2 fouls) scored three times for the runners-up with Graham Bray providing one. The handicap award completed the count.
Chris Hoyman Memorial Cup – San Diego Polo Club
Southwind/Tri Tech (9) – Chris Collins 1, Chris Maloney 1, Gaston von Wernich 5, Jesse Bray 2.
Ohana/Star Meadow (8) – Kelly Maloney, Joy Bancroft -1, Graham Bray 5, Danny Juarez 4.
Tony Gregg