Crab Orchard, Lechuza Caracas Register Semifinals Victories; Will Play in USPA Piaget Gold Cup Final at International Polo Club
WELLINGTON, FL (March 21, 2007) – Continuing to have a dominating season like Tiger Woods or Roger Federer, 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso scored eight goals to lead Crab Orchard over Bendabout 14-5 in the semifinals of the USPA Piaget Gold Cup Wednesday at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
In the other semifinal, Pite Merlos and Jeff Blake scored six goals apiece as Lechuza Caracas defeated La Herradura 18-7.
The final is Sunday at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field at International Polo Club.
Cambiaso and 9-goaler Matias Magrini have won 16 of 17 games this season at IPC, including the last six in a row.
“We’re in the final,” said a smiling David Stirling Jr., who scored three goals, all in the second half for Crab Orchard. “You can’t expect to be winning 11-1 at halftime. We were excited to be 8-4 against a great team. At halftime, we didn’t need to change anything. We just needed to relax in the second half and then everything clicked.”
Crab Orchard, which clinched their previous three games with overwhelming first half leads of 14-0, 10-1 and 9-3, managed an 8-4 advantage over Bendabout at halftime.
Bendabout, which scored 38 goals in three games entering the semifinals, was never in rhythm yet was able to stay closer than any other team through the first three chukkers.
“The first half was very, very hard,” said Magrini. “I played very bad in the first half. I was not concentrating enough. In the second half, I just focused on playing polo. But I never expected to beat them by that much.”
Bendabout scored early in the fourth chukker to cut the margin to 8-5 on Ignacio Toccalino’s neck shot but it was all Crab Orchard after that. Stirling scored two goals in a 40-second span during the final minute to give Crab Orchard an 11-5 lead heading into the fifth chukker.
Magrini praised Cambiaso’s play and leadership.
“He’s from another planet, an alien like E.T.,” said Magrini, who also scored three goals. “We are lucky and blessed to be playing with him.”
Ten-goaler Miguel Novillo Astrada and Ignacio Toccalino led Bendabout (3-1) with two goals apiece while patron Gillian Johnston scored one goal. Alejandro Novillo Astrada did not score.
Lechuza Caracas (4-1) never trailed in its game, building a 12-3 halftime lead and coasting to victory. Ten-goaler Sebastian Merlos added five goals and patron Victor Vargas scored one goal for the winners.
“We’re where everyone wants to be, playing in the final,” said Sebastian Merlos.
Julio Gracida led La Herradura (3-2) with four goals while Kris Kampsen added three goals.
Fourteen teams entered the 26-goal USPA Piaget Gold Cup, the second of the Big Three tournaments at International Polo Club Palm Beach. The USPA Piaget Gold Cup, which began in 1974, is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the United States and is in first season at International Polo Club.
The polo matches at International Polo Club are open to the public. General admission for the Sunday games at International Polo Club Palm Beach is $10 for adults. Children under 3 enter for free. Tickets may be purchased at the gate on the day of the game or in advance at the stadium box office.
Major sponsors at International Polo Club Palm Beach for the 2007 season include Stanford Private Wealth Management, Piaget, Bombardier Aerospace, Bessemer Trust, Westwind Realty, LLC, Panera Bread, Cartier, CityPlace, Florida Coast Equipment, The Mall at Wellington Green, Omar Trevino Bloodstock, Inc., Palm Beach Daily News, Palm Beach Illustrated, Palm Beach Post, Ritz Carlton Palm Beach, Roederer Estates, The Wellington Institute, Van Cleef & Arpels, Yamana Gold Inc. and Jim Corbin Illustrated Properties.
International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South, between Pierson Road and Lake Worth Road in Wellington. For information, directions or ticket purchases, please call the club at (561) 204-5687 or visit the website at www.internationalpoloclub.com.
Past Champions
2006 – New Bridge La Dolfina
2005 – Millarville
2004 – White Birch
2003 – White Birch
2002 – White Birch
2001 – Boca Polo
2000 – Isla Carroll
1999 – Outback
1998 – White Birch
1997 – White Birch
1996 – White Birch
1995 – Ellerston White
1994 – Michelob
1993 – Cellular One
1992 – Revlon
1991 – Cellular One
1990 – Les Diables Bleus
1989 – White Birch
1988 – White Birch
1987 – White Birch
1986 – White Birch
1985 – Chasqui
1984 – White Birch
1983 – White Birch
1982 – Boehm
1981 – Boca Raton
1980 – Retama
1979 – Retama
1978 – Abercrombie & Kent
1977 – Lone Oak
1976 – Willow Bend
1975 – Tulsa-Dallas
1974 – Milwaukee