The Polo Report
by Steve Crowder
It was a very good day for polo in the USA. There were not a lot of U.S. players, but it was good polo. Game 1 was not like I thought it would be. It came on early west coast time, so I got to see some of it. Adolfo Cambiaso and Dubai were on fire. I was bit shocked at how fast they pulled away. The 4 flags had a horrible day at the line and shots on goal. It will be interesting to see the stats. After the 4th chukker it was really history. Seldom do you come back if you do not recover in the 4th. Memo, Gonzalo and Joe Barry all believed it was the jaw breaker if you were up big and they were. Audi made a run, but it was not uncontrolled. I remember decades ago playing against Gonzalo Pieres, who was the best by far, was always going up by 4 or 6 goals. In the last 2 chukkars you always thought you were going to catch him, but if it got to two goals away he went and you had to have a miracle to finish ahead. I think Adolfo Cambiaso does the same, even in the finals of the Argentine Open. It looked like Ellerstina was going to catch them, but if you really looked they were just buying time. I am sure the Superstars can and do this. Audi and the 4 flags can be glad, not happy that they did play well. They, however, ran into a roadblock and it started with their number 1. Rashid was a ball breaker. They used him to pull the team. Adolfo Cambiaso sees these things. I remember when he and King George played several Opens and won all of them …I think. Cambiaso had George take the player marking him and it was one of your best. George would always stop him for 2 or 3 seconds. Being a 0 it was often a + ten play because Cambiaso was gone. The high goaler was back with a 0.
Game 2 was just the opposite. I thought Audi had a chance and Whitebirch none. I did not think they were even close on horses. That was super stupid and obvious quick. Mariano and Hilaro were wow moving much faster. On the big runs, the seldom caught Orchard Hill seemed out of wack and on defense 70 % of the time. I think they were so lucky to win in the end, but glad Mr. VanAndel is there. He has been so many times and he is such a loyal supporter of the US High goal. Maybe this will be the one, but he does have a problem on the other-side and he has so many +’s over there. I just hope his OH squad knows where they are going because today was a miracle win. I thought today Hilario Uloah was the best player on their field. Just my opinion.
Have a great and safe game :
DUBAI: Rashid Albwardy , Alejo Taranco,Facundo Sola, Adolfo Cambiaso
VS
ORCHARD HILL
Facundo Pieres, Julian De Lussareta, Juan Martin Nero, Steve Van Andel
see you at the FINALS of the GRANDADDY of them all.