Yesterday, August 11th 2007, Two Trees – La Dolfina defeated defending champion Black Watch – Ralph Lauren for the Mercedes Benz Challenge Trophy. The tournament began with six teams, drawn into two brackets: Equuleus, Endeavour and Two Trees in the first, and Northwood, Black Watch and White Birch in the second. The tournament was played cross bracket style giving each team three games to qualify for the finals.
Two Trees-La Dolfina win Mercedes Benz Challenge Click here for more photos of this tournament by Holger Lohs.
The tournament began with an early upset by Endeavour, who defeated the always competitive White Birch 12-8 on opening day. Pancho Bensadon was name MVP for leading his team with 9 goals to victory over White Birch, and received BPP for his mare Alcancia. The second game had Two Trees – La Dolfina narrowly defeating Black Watch 11-9. Equuleus and Northwood met for their first game, where Equuleus’ trio of Francisco Lanusse and Father-Son combo of Magoo and Cristian Laprida defeated Northwood by one goal, ending 9-8.
The second round of games began with Two Trees – La Dolfina with a 1-0 record and White Birch with a 0-1 record. Mariano Aguerre played brilliantly, quarterbacking his young team to an early lead ending the first half at 8-5, and holding strong to gain the victory of 13-12 (Aguerre with 9 total goals.)
The second Saturday event was owned by Black Watch – Ralph Lauren who began the game with a (0-1, -2 net goals) record, and finished with a (1-1, +6) record, having defeated Equuleus 15-7. Facu Pieres was named MVP for his show-stopping performance of 8 goals, and was awarded BPP for Deseo who played an incredible fifth chukker.
The last game of the second round, between Northwood and Endeavour was delayed during the fourth chukker with 6 minutes and 38 seconds on the clock, due to an injury to Lucas Monteverde of Northwood. Lucas took a mallet to the face and required stitches. With great sportsmanship, Larry Austin and his Endeavour team requested to finish the game the following day, which was granted with a quick decision by the Umpires and the Tournament Committee. The following morning brough much analysis of the USPA rules and regulations, when Ashley Schiff of Northwood, found that she would not be able to finish the game due to last minute work obligations. Confusion ensued and the USPA and the Bridgehampton Tournament committee discussed substitution and suspension of games regulations, and shortly before the match, determined that Micheal Borrico was eligible to substitute for the entirity of the remaining game. Endeavour who was leading 9-6 when the game had been suspended, finished the game 11-9.
The third round of games began with only one team, Endeavour, with a 2-0 record, and one team, Northwood, with a 0-2 record, leaving the four remaining teams tied with 1-1 records. The first match-up between White Birch and Equuleus had the heat of the game matched to the heat of the summer sun in the Hamptons. The score went back and forth, and the end of the first half left Equuleus ahead by one goal. The second half was controlled by White Birch, who stayed ahead of Equuleus by one goal throughout the remainder of the game. (White Birch finished with 2-1 -2; and Equuleus 1-2). The second game of the day, was won by Black Watch who defeated Endeavour 14-11, putting Black Watch in the lead with a 2-1 +9 net record, guaranteeing them a spot in the final, and leaving Endeavour with a 2-1 +3 net record with a good chance of making the final.
The last qualifing game between Northwood and Two Trees would determine who faced off against Black Watch for the trophy- Endeavour or Two Trees. Two Trees – La Dolfina needed to win by 3 goals or win by 2 with a high scoring game. Two Trees pulled ahead 8-2 at the half, but Northwood came back strong in the second half, with Andres Weisz scoring a field goal in the sixth bringing the score to 10-8 with a minute left to go. Everyone was on the edge of their seats – Cambiaso was within 30 yards of the goal, and with 20 seconds on the clock, Cambiaso did his magic and weaved through the Northwood squad as if at a standstill to score the goal that qualified Two Trees – La Dolfina for the final.
The final, which was originally schedule for the previous Wednesday, was cancelled due to excessive rain. The second tournament of the Bridgehampton season, The Hampton Cup, had begun on Thursday, when White Birch defeated Topping Pond 15-11, and was scheduled to continue on Saturday with Northwood takening on Black Watch. After debating possible schedules for the Mercedes final and future Hampton Cup games, the Tournament Committee for the Bridgehampton Polo Club determined that the final should be played at the earliest date, being Saturday August 11th at 4pm, and the Northwood vs. Black Watch game rescheduled. So on Friday, while the rain fell slowely and constantly, the teams involved in the schedule changes were notified. The two teams that were to meet in the final, rushed to organize horses and strategy, while watching the rain fall, and questioning whether polo would even be possible. On the morning of the 11th, Black Watch and Two Trees met to discuss the condition and safety of the field, and decided to regroup at 3pm to test the field properly before making a final decision. At 3pm it was decided amongst the two teams that the final would be played.
Mandy Moore, actress and singer, threw in the first ball of the game, and the battle ensued. Black Watch began with a one goal handicap (19 goal team handicap), and Facu Pieres scored the first field goal putting Black Watch ahead 2-0 early in the first. Two Trees came back strong with a field goal by Cambiaso, and penalty #2 from Castagnola to end the first chukker 2-2. The second chukker was owned by Two Trees, Castagnola with a field goal, and Cambiaso with a penalty #4 and an additional field goal, ending the second 5-2. The third chukker woke Black Watch with Pieres scoring 2 penalty conversions against only one goal by Cambiaso, finishing the first half at 6-4.
The tension was rising for both teams, and umpires had to help guide players to the respectful tents for the half-time. The fourth chukker was dominated by a fired-up Black Watch team, led by Pieres and his mount Deseo, who scored two glorious field goals consecutively, against Cambiaso’s sole penalty #2 goal. The fifth chukker, as is normally known amongst polo circles as the “foul fest fifth” was no exception to the rule, with a total of 7 penalties, adding to the game high of 32 total penalties. Both teams converted a penalty goal, and Cambiaso scored the sole field goal for the chukker. The sixth chukker started with Two Trees – La Dolfina leading 9-7. Facu scored the first field goal bringing the score within one goal, but was unlucky on the penalty line, missing two penalty 4’s and a safety (penalty 6). Cambiaso, as he is known to do, turned up the volume, and scored 2 field goals to secure the win for his Two Trees – La Dolfina team.
Facundo Pieres was awarded Best Playing Pony for his brilliant mare “Brasita” who played parts of the 1st, 2nd and 5th chukkers, and the always entertaining Adolfo Cambiaso Jr., was named Most Valuable Player, with a total of 9 goals for his team ( 6 field, 3 penalties). Team owner, David Walentas was handed the Mercedes Benz Trophy by hostess Mandy Moore, and with a big smile, raised it over his head, becoming the 2007 Mercedes Benz Challenge Champion for the first time.