La Bamba de Areco (Jean Francois Decaux, Polito Pieres, Gonzalito Pieres and Ollie Cudmore) and Salkeld (Nick Clarke, Max Routledge, James Beim and Miguel Novillo Astrada) entered the day’s contest with identical 0-1 records, each badly in need of a victory if they had any hope of moving forward in the 2013 Cartier Queen’s Cup.

First chukker play saw Gonzalito Pieres score twice for La Bamba de Areco while Salkeld relied on goals from Nick Clarke and Miguel Novillo Astrada as they rode to a 3-3 tie.

Both defenses stepped it up in the second frame of the game.  Polito Pieres backhanded the ball out of the air to save a goal as the two teams held one another scoreless.  It was still 3-3 at the end of the period.

Salkeld got it going in the third, scoring two goals while blanking La Bamba de Areco.  At the end of the first half of play, Salkeld led by two goals, 5-3.

The Pieres boys bounced back in the fourth as La Bamba de Areco registered three goals in the chukker while limiting the Salkeld offense to a single goal.  With two chukkers left to play it was all even at 6-6.

Ties of 8-8 and 9-9 characterized the final two chukkers of regulation play as neither team was allowed to open up any significant lead.  With the score tied 9-9 at the end of regulation play, both teams repaired to the sidelines to prepare for the sudden-death overtime period.

A determined Salkeld took the wind out of the sails of La Bamba de Areco in overtime as English 7-goaler James Beim tallied the golden goal for the win.  The victory evens the Salkeld record at 1-1, making next Wednesday’s showdown with the Black Bears (1-1) a crucial determining factor into who will qualify for a quarterfinal spot in League III competition.  UAE sits atop the league with a perfect 2-0 record.

DUBAI 14, ENIGMA 8

Dubai (Rashid Albwardy, Alec White, Nico Pieres and Adolfo Cambiaso) fell behind the pack by losing their opening game in an 18-17 shootout with El Remanso (3-0), but redeemed themselves by scoring a convincing 15-9 win over  Enigma (Charlie Hanbury, Sapo Caset, Guillermo Willington and Jerome Wirth) Saturday afternoon to qualify for the quarterfinals.

Enigma got going early, scoring three first chukker goals.  Dubai managed just a single goal and trailed 3-1 as the period ended.

The second chukker belonged to Dubai who scored four times while holding Enigma to a single goal from the field.   Dubai left the field after the second period with a narrow 5-4 edge.

The two teams exchanged a pair of goals in the third.  At the end of the first half, Dubai continued to lead, 7-6.

The fourth chukker proved to be Enigma’s undoing as Adolfo Cambiaso led a Dubai attack that scored five times.  Enigma managed a single goal and fell behind by five goals, 12-7.

Two more fifth chukker goals from Dubai were countered by a single goal from Enigma.  With one chukker left to play, Dubai was sitting on a 14-8, six goal lead.

Dubai and Enigma exchanged goals in the final chukker as Dubai scored the 15-9 win and secured a spot in next weekend’s quarterfinals.

Action in the Cartier Queens cup continues on Sunday with Les Lions (1-1) meeting Twelve Oaks (0-2) at noon followed by a 3pm contest between Zacara (2-0) and EFG Bank Aravali (1-1).