By Alex Webbe
For the fourth straight week the Palm Beach Polo and Hunt Club provided the venue for high-goal arena polo under the stars as Tommy Biddle led the home team (Biddle, Tom Blake and Brett Gearwar) to a hard-fought 10-6 win over a talented trio representing The Tackeria (Jorge Estrada, Martin Ravina and Whistle Uys) in front of a relatively sparse but enthusiastic crowd.
“I think the threat of rain might have scared off some of our usual crowd,” offered polo club manager Juan Olivera. “We got rain earlier in the day and some people thought that we wouldn’t be able to play tonight,” he added.
Scattered among the spectators were USPA Chairman Chuck Weaver and Secretary Joe Meyer.
“I’m really looking forward to this,” said Meyer, “It’s a great facility and there’s a good deal of support here as well.”
Jorge Estrada (2) scored the first goal as a quick pace of play was established from the beginning. Biddle showed why he is the arena game’s only 10-goal player moments later with his first goal of the game, 1-1. Martin Ravina (6) closed out the opening chukker with a go-ahead goal for The Tackeria who left the arena for fresh ponies on top of a 2-1 lead.
Bret Gearwar (1), a member of the young USPA team scored for Palm Beach Polo and Hunt Club in the second chukker to tie it up at 2-2, but a goal from Estrada put The Tackeria back in the lead, 3-2. Biddle’s second goal of the game pulled Palm Beach Polo and Hunt Club even at 3-3, but a goal from South African 5-goaler Whistle Uys ended the first half with The Tackeria on top of a 4-3 score.
“It looks like a great playing surface,” said Middleburg, Virginia’s Andrea Ross. “We’ve got a great arena in The Plains (Great Meadow Polo Club), but the level of play tonight is superb.”
A refreshed Palm Beach Polo and Hunt Club team returned to the arena after a brief halftime intermission, and Biddle quickly went to work. In less than a minute the 10-goaler tied it up at 4-4, but Estrada responded almost as quickly, giving The Tackeria a one goal, 5-4 advantage. Biddle’s fourth goal of the game tied it up at 5-5, and teammate Tom Blake scored the go-ahead goal with Palm Beach Polo and Hunt Club riding out of the arena at the end of the third chukker with their first lead of the game, 6-5.
“I knew that Brett (Gearwar) was a good player,” said Biddle, “I had played with him in Long Island, but I don’t think he was comfortable with the horses he played in the opening three chukkers. In the final chukker, he showed what he could do.”
Biddle continued to be the pupped-master for his team in the fourth period, passing the ball ahead to waiting teammates, turning defense into offense with powerful backhanders and carrying the ball through the opposition with relative ease, but his supporting cast took the limelight in the final chukker of play.
Blake extended the Palm Beach Polo and Hunt Club lead to two goals, 7-5, with his second goal of the game, but Uys answered with a goal for The Tackeria. Gearwar scored a two-pointer from beyond the midfield line as Palm Beach Polo and Hunt Club’s lead grew to three goals, 9-6. Behind the intimidating presence of Biddle, Palm Beach Polo and Hunt Club continued to press the attack, with Gearwar scoring the final goal of the match for the 10-6 win.
“For such a powerful hitter, I can’t believe how delicately he handles the ball on his approach shots,” observed Aimee Waters. “I only wish I had that kind of control on the field.”
Biddle and Gearwar both accounted for four points for Palm Beach Polo and Hunt Club. Teammate Blake added two goals for the win.
Estrada led The Tackeria attack with three goals. Uys scored twice and Ravina added a goal in a losing effort.
I”I was terribly impressed with the play of Brett (Gearwar) said Biddle. I think he shows a lot of promise. As for Tom (Blake) he’s a solid player,” he added.
LAS AZUQUITAS 6, IDLEWILD 5
Earlier action saw the women take to the arena as a determined Las Azuquitas team (Scarlet Davenport, Jennifer Williams and Siobhan Gallagher) jumped all over Idlewild (Laura Willson and Aimee Waters) in the opening chukker and held on for an exciting 6-5 win.
Las Azuquitas scored four unanswered goals in the first chukker as Idlewild was caught by surprise by the speed of their opponents’ attack. Two goals from Siobhan Gallagher were followed by a pair of goals from Scarlet Davenport for a 4-0 start.
Idlewild tamed the Las Azuquitas offense in the second frame, holding them scoreless, but managed only a single goal from Canadian Julia Vigeon. Idlewild trailed by three goals, 4-1, but seemed to finally have their game faces on as the first half ended.
Idlewild seemed to control the opening minutes of the third chukker with Vigeon putting the first two goals of the period on the scoreboard. Scarlet Davenport scored a goal for Las Azuquitas as the chukker ended. Las Azuquitas continued to enjoy the lead, but the margin was cut to two goals, 5-3.
Laura Willson showed what she could do in the final chukker as she scored consecutive goals to tie it up for the first time at 5-5, but the comeback was not to be. With time running out, Gallagher scored her third goal of the contest for the 6-5 victory.
Gallagher and Davenport scored three goals apiece in the Las Azuquitas win.
Vigeon led the Idlewild effort with three goals. Willson scored twice in the loss.