The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
GUESS WHAT?
IT IS LUCCHESE VS PIOCHO RANCH IN THE FINALS …
…of the 2010 America Cup @ Santa Barbara Polo Club, which is the second tournament of the Triple Crown of California. It was not the most exciting day of polo in the 100 year history of Santa Barbara Polo, but it was fun to watch.
It started early at 10 am and it was a game that meant something … sort of. If Zacara won against Audi, who had no wins, it was up to Grant’s Farm to win big to make it exciting. Zacara did their part and they won over Audi in a so, so game. Neither team was too sharp and definitely not looking ahead yet.
Lyndon Lea had a good game and Hilario had a awesome goal to win it. Other than that it was just a so, so game of Polo. Several fouls and a new call … just scream and Umpires will stop the game. I guess it is a new rule so do not fall off if a different play goes on. So this made game 2 of 4 important. Grant’s Farm made a very strong effort to get to the finals as there is no 1 o’clock for high-goal consolation this week. They did win against Piocho, who had a nice situation. They could lose by 4 and still be in the finals, however, when Grant’s Farm (GF) got real close to their mark, it was the old fellows saying “not today” and they only lost by 2 to put them in the big show during Sunday’s main event.
At 2 PM it was Adolfo Cambiaso (AC) and Lucchese taking on Mansour, who also are win-less. It was a no value game, but Ben Solemani pushed it on to stop an undefeated team, but there is one thing about AC that reminds me of Gonzalo Pieres … you think you are catching him and you do and then … oops… your two goals down again.
I am not sure whether they are getting weaker or if they are just keeping you happy. I guess we will see Sunday because Memo and Carlos Gracida are not going to be cantering. Piocho is also determined to play a very hard game of Polo. They have been here many times and they have seen very few losses during their history. It could be a very good finals if there is a chance to stop the Lucchese freight train … this maybe it.
THE FINALS WILL BE :
LUCCHESE VS PIOCHO RANCH
LUCCHESE
JOHN MUSE A
ANDRES WEISZ 5
ADOLFO CAMBIASO 10
JASON CROWDER 5
20
vs.
PIOCHO
GEROMINO OBERGON
MATIAS ZAVALETA 4
MEMO GRACIDA 7
CARLOS GRACIDA 8
40 GOALS AND IT WILL BE FUN!
SEE YA
Santa Barbara’s High-Goal Schedule
16 to 20 GOAL
July 7 to July 11: Mayors Trophy
July 14 to July 25: Robert Skene Trophy
July 28 to Aug 8: USPA Lucchese America Cup
August 12 to Aug 29: Bombardier Pacific Coast Open
