By Alex Webbe
Led by veteran Carlos Gracida, Patagones (2-0) scored a 12-10 win over EFG Bank (1-1) in Iglehart Cup play Monday afternoon at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
Two opening goals by Luis Escobar put EFG Bank ahead 2-0 before Carlos Gracida answered with two well-earned goals from the field.
Carlos Gracida and Gonzalo Avendano each scored a goal in the second chukker while holding EFG Bank scoreless, and led 4-2.
“I always felt like we had control of the game,” said Carlos Gracida, “but it was an uncomfortable game to play.”
EFG Bank tried to slow the play down and force Patagones to play a ball control game while the well-mounted Patagones foursome had other ideas.
Straight goals from Carlos Gracida, Julio Gracida and Carlos Avendano made it 7-2. EFG Bank fought back with Luis Escobar scoring twice. Patagones left the field at halftime with a 7-4 advantage.
Penalty goals were the fare of the day in the fourth chukker. Carlos and Julio Gracida each scored a single penalty shot for Patagones while Escobar notched two for EFG Bank. The chukker ended with Patagones holding its three-goal lead, 10-7.
EFG Bank struggled to get back into it in the sixth period, scoring three times, but single goals from each of the Gracidas sealed the deal, Patagones took the 12-10 win.
Luis Escobar led all scoring with nine goals. Whistle Uys scored once.
Carlos Gracida’s six goals led the Patagones team. Gonzalo Avendano and Julio Gracida added three goals apiece.
SAN SABA 13, MT. BRILLIANT 9
In earlier action, Mt. Brilliant (0-2) started out like gangbusters, as sixteen-year-old Bo Goodman scored the second and third goals of the game and Santiago Chavanne added a third to take an early 3-1 lead. Sapo Caset accounted for the only goal from San Saba (2-1), but Caset was just getting started.
In spite of a record six-goal day for the young Goodman, Sapo would lead all scorers with eight goals as San Saba hammered out a convincing 13-9 win over Mt, Brilliant.
Play started slow in the second chukker until Caset was hit in the mouth with a mallet and slid off of his horse. Moments later, he mounted up and led San Saba to an 8-4 halftime lead, scoring five of the goals himself. Teammate Toto Collardin added two goals while Bo Goodman’s third goal was the only other scoring by Mt. Brilliant in the first half.
Mt. Brilliant fought to get back into contention in the fourth chukker, with Santiago Chavanne converting a penalty shot to open the period, less than a minute later San Saba’s Carlucho Arellano scored his first goal of the game. Caset converted a penalty shot for a 10-5 lead. Goodman answered with a penalty conversion of his own, but Mt. Brilliant trailed 10-6
“I felt like we controlled the game,” said Caset, “but is just didn’t feel like we played our best game.”
Caset and Arellano scored single goals in the fifth chukker while holding Mt. Brilliant to a single penalty goal from Goodman for a 12-7 lead.
Pelon Escapite scored his first goal of the game in the sixth chukker for Mt. Brilliant but was quickly answered by Arellano. Goodman scored the final goal of the game on a penalty shot as San Saba took the game 13-9.
Caset led the scoring with eight goals. Carlucho Arellano scored three goals and Toto Collardin accounted for two goals in the win.
Bo Goodman’s six goals led the Mt. Brilliant team. Santiago Chavanne added two, and Pelon Escapite scored once.
Iglehart action continues on Thursday with games scheduled. BTA (0-2) meets Mt. Brilliant (0-2) at 11am; Isla Carroll (0-1) faces Lechuza Caracas (0-1) at 1pm; and San Saba (2-1) will play Lucchese (1-1) at 3pm.