The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
July, 29th, 2011
On an absolutely ugly Friday afternoon it was a bit misty,cloudy and cold. One positive thing about the weather is that the horses probably loved it. Action started at 2 PM with ERG and Piaget turning it on. Piaget got out to an early lead by 2 with a handicap, but by the end of the first chukker it was 2 to 1 and the second was a draw with lots of fouls about 1 a minute. The third chukker was a different story . Sebe fired up and took control. He started hitting the ball and brought Miguel into the game. It was the difference as they went into 1/2 time at 5 to 3 winning the chukkar 3 to 0. While ERG changed in the third Lolo refused to send the ball and continued to take it on his own and in a very fast and uninterrupted chukkar no whistles it was Piaget winning by 1 and behind in the game by only one. The fifth was all ERG as they won it by 2 to 0 and Lolo was still trying to keep the ball even after a pretty hard fall became more stuck to doing it on his own. Leading 8 to 5 going into the 6th Piaget made a rally and actually closed the gap to 1 before a couple of easy misses by Jason and Juan or it could have been ?? It was a good game over and under reffed but solid, sloppy, choppy play made them the same. Piaget missed 2 open goals and a 4 and ERG made opens 2 of them and they head to the finals where they will meet GUESS WHO?
Well Sunday Lucchese streak came to an end and they ended Audi’s today but not without a fight . The weather was improving but the heat was not there early for Audi as Adolfo Cambiaso and Lucchese climbed all over the red and white in the first up 4 to 1. At one time they led 6 to 2, but Audi just kept coming back tying the 2nd, 3rd and 4 th chukker and finally wonthe fifth. It was all square at one time in the sixth … not sure on time as the field clock (maybe the worst in polo) as the first clock does not work and second … it is so small it should be in a car. They will not turn on the clock on field one for players or fans, so everyone is a bit lost for when or where in a chukkar on field 3.
They did after all, tie it up and as soon as they did Cambiaso came out with a throw in that was questioned, but went on and scored the winning goal. At the next throw in Jeff Blake jumped on it and was 30 feet short when the horn went. Both games were decent semis and both teams probably deserved to win, but where are we on the rules?,I like all refs here personally, but what the hell … no talk , WELL? No turn on the BALL ? I WATCHED THE UK GOLD CUP AND THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. I am not saying yet it is been a win or lose deal, but it is going to get tougher and they need to set a plan and the club needs two flagger’s like most places at this level. I know its been this way for a 100 years, but so much has changed. A 100 years ago the flagger was a man making a living, not what we had today.
The finals should be a showdown … the best 2 players on the field are going to be Cambiaso and Sebe Merlos and they are both double tough. The winner will use his team and that will be the difference.
Check the time for game as I guess today was a bit confusing … tape said 4.30 game was at 4. Finals maybe first game at 1PM so have best field … I’m not sure so check on it. Other game will be first round of America Cup so it should be very good as well. I will post a schedule as soon as I know for sure .
FINALS TEAMS
ERG
SCOTT WOODS
MIGUEL TORRES
SEBE MERLOS
PACO DENARAVEZ
LUCCHESE
JOHN MUSE
JUAN {BATTATA] CUBRILO
JEFF BLAKE
ADOLFO CAMBIASO
see ya at the SILVER CUP FINALS