New Bridge La Dolfina Advances to Semifinals with 11-7 Triumph over Black Watch Saturday in Ylvisaker Cup Action at International Polo Club
WELLINGTON, FL (February 10, 2007) – Nine-goaler Matias Magrini scored six goals to lead defending champion New Bridge La Dolfina over Black Watch in the quarterfinals of the 22-goal Ylvisaker Cup presented by Cartier Saturday at International Polo Club Palm Beach. It was the 18th consecutive victory over the last two years at International Polo Club for New Bridge La Dolfina.
In the semifinals, New Bridge La Dolfina plays the winner of Laurence-Wallace against San Saba on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
Black Watch began the game with one goal by handicap but it was all New Bridge La Dolfina from the first throw-in as they scored seven consecutive goals and coasted to victory.
Magrini scored three goals in the first half while 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso and 3-goaler Martin Valent added two goals apiece to help build the huge halftime margin.
Black Watch scored the game’s last three goals to cut into the lead, but the game wasn’t as close as the score indicated.
Cambiaso finished with three goals for New Bridge La Dolfina (3-0) while Valent added two goals. Patron Russ McCall did not score. New Bridge La Dolfina has won eight consecutive games in 2007 and they are 20-1 over the last two seasons.
“There’s no pressure because we don’t think about (the streak),” said McCall. “It’s one, one, one, just one game at a time.
“I would love to play in it (the final) again. I’ve won a lot of tournaments, but my favorite was last year’s Ylvisaker Cup because it was a tight, clean game with a lot of great players on both teams.”
Ten-goaler Facundo Pieres led Black Watch (1-2) with four goals and Nico Pieres added two goals. Nacho Figueras and patron Neil Hirsch did not score.
The tournament continues Sunday with a tripleheader beginning at 10 a.m. when Privilege/Gracida International plays the Broncos followed by Laurence-Wallace against San Saba at noon and ending with BTA against Lechuza Caracas at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field.
The final of the Ylvisaker Cup presented by Cartier is scheduled for Sunday, February 18 at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field.
The Ylvisaker Cup in named in honor of William T. “Bill” Ylvisaker, a polo pioneer who founded Palm Beach Polo and Country Club in the late 1970s, bringing the sport to the forefront in Palm Beach County. A former Chairman of the USPA, Ylvisaker was elected into the Polo Hall of Fame in 1996. Ylvisaker has won numerous major polo tournaments, including the prestigious U.S. Open in 1972.
The polo matches are open to the public. General admission for the Sunday games at International Polo Club Palm Beach is $10 for adults. Children under 12 enter for free. Tickets may be purchased at the gate on the day of the game or in advance at the stadium box office.
International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South, between Pierson Road and Lake Worth Road in Wellington. For information, directions or ticket purchases, please call the club at (561) 204-5687 or visit the website at www.internationalpoloclub.com.
Past champions
2006 – New Bridge La Dolfina defeated Skeeterville 15-14
2005 – Pony Express defeated Airstream 11-6
2004 – Crab Orchard defeated Black Watch 13-8
2003 – C Spear defeated Outback 11-9
Standings
Division I
Team W-L GF GA
BTA 2-0 25 16
Laurence-Wallace 1-1 19 25
Bendabout 0-2 20 23
Division II
Team W-L GF GA
Privilege/Gracida International 2-0 27 20
Black Watch 1-2 32 37
Skeeterville 0-2 22 28
Division III
Team W-L GF GA
San Saba 2-0 21 19
Lechuza Caracas 1-1 23 23
Patagones 0-2 25 26
Division IV
Team W-L GF GA
New Bridge La Dolfina 3-0 36 27
Broncos 2-1 34 38
Audi 1-2 41 37
Pony Express 0-2 17 22
Saturday’s result
New Bridge La Dolfina 11, Black Watch 7
Scoring Leaders
(through Saturday’s game)
Player/Team Games Goals
Gonzalito Pieres, Audi 3 21
Facundo Pieres, Black Watch 3 21
Pite Merlos, Lechuza Caracas 2 15
Adolfo Cambiaso, New Bridge La Dolfina 3 15
Lucas Monteverde, Broncos 3 15
Paco de Narvaez, San Saba 2 13
Jeff Hall, BTA 2 13
Kris Kampsen, Privilege/Gracida Int’l 2 13
Julio Arellano, Skeeterville 2 12
Guille Aguero, Patagones 2 11
Miguel Novillo Astrada, Bendabout 2 11
Carlos Gracida, Privilege/Gracida Int’l 2 11
Matias Magrini, New Bridge La Dolfina 3 11
Silvestre Donovan, Broncos 3 10
Tomas Goti, Pony Express 2 10