Pony Express Holds Off Skeeterville 12-11 to Clinch Semifinal Spot
In Joe Barry Memorial Cup Action Monday at International Polo Club
WELLINGTON, FL (January 22, 2007) – Pony Express dominated the second half, scoring seven consecutive goals, four by 7-goaler Tomas Goti, to rally past Skeeterville 12-11 in a 22-goal Joe Barry Memorial Cup match Monday at International Polo Club Palm Beach. Pony Express turned a three-goal deficit into a four-goal advantage.
The victory clinched a spot in the semifinals for Pony Express, which finished second in Division I with a 2-1 record.
In an earlier match, Matias Magrini converted a 30-yard penalty shot 2:15 into overtime to lift New Bridge La Dolfina over Privilege/Gracida International 10-9. It was New Bridge La Dolfina’s 14th consecutive victory over the last two seasons at International Polo Club.
In the semifinals, New Bridge La Dolfina will play Patagones (1-1) Thursday at 1 p.m. and Pony Express will play Division II winner Audi (2-0) at 3 p.m.
Skeeterville built a 7-5 halftime advantage and Owen Rinehart tallied in the opening minute of the fourth chukker before Pony Express got going as Goti and 8-goaler Nicolas Roldan alternated scoring goals to push Pony Express ahead 9-8 at the end of the fourth chukker.
Pony Express continued the onslaught in the fifth chukker. Roldan stole the ball from three opponents and scored on a breakaway almost two minutes into the period. Goti converted a penalty shot with 2:16 left and rounded out the scoring with 55 seconds remaining.
Skeeterville rallied in the final chukker with three consecutive goals, the last by Rinehart with 20 seconds left in the game, but could not get the ball in play before time ran out.
Roldan finished with three goals, Gonzalo Von Wernich scored one goal while patron Bob Daniels did not score. Rinehart led Skeeterville (1-2) with six goals while Julio Arellano added four goals and patron Skeeter Johnston had one goal.
Magrini, who finished with a team-high five goals, sent the game into overtime with a 30-yard penalty shot with 18 seconds left. Adolfo Cambiaso and Martin Valent scored two goals each for the winners (3-0) and patron Russ McCall added one goal.
Carlos Gracida, Carlitos Gracida, Julio Gracida and Roberto Gonzales scored two goals apiece for Privilege (0-3).
The Joe Barry Memorial Cup is named after American polo legend Joe Barry, who died on May 18, 2002 at the age of 58. Born and raised in Texas, he achieved a 9-goal rating and dominated polo in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s. Barry won six U.S. Open championships, three Gold Cups, three Silver Cups as well as the Coronation and Camacho Cup trophies. One of the greatest No. 4s in polo history, Joe Barry was elected to the Polo Hall of Fame in 1999.
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 in advance and they are also available at the gate on the day of the game.
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.
Standings
Division I
Team W-L GF GA
New Bridge La Dolfina 3-0 39 27
Pony Express 2-1 35 37
Skeeterville 1-2 32 36
Privilege/Gracida International 0-3 33 36
Division II
Team W-L GF GA
Audi 2-0 29 12
Patagones 1-1 18 28
Lechuza Caracas 0-2 16 23
Monday’s results
New Bridge La Dolfina 10, Privilege/Gracida International 9 (OT)
Pony Express 12, Skeeterville 11
Sunday’s result
Audi 18, Patagones 6
Saturday’s result
New Bridge 13, Skeeterville 9
Joe Barry Memorial Cup schedule:
Thursday
Semifinals
New Bridge La Dolfina vs. Patagones, 1 p.m.
Audi vs. Pony Express, 3 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 28
Championship Game, 3 p.m.
Previous champions:
2006 – Catamount defeated Lechuza Caracas 9-7 (22-goal)
2005 – Lechuza Caracas defeated Millarville 13-10 (22-goal)
2004 – Catamount defeated Bendabout 13-10 (22-goal)
2003 – La Herradura defeated Brigadoon 8-5 (18-goal)