Polo Do was Polo Did as they did in Heathcote Farm 13-8 in the first semi-final and then Longfield Farm took away Shekomeko paddles and left them up the Creek, so to speak, 11-9. So Polo Do faces Longfield Farm in the Eddie Moore Finals on Saturday. Game time is presently set for 1pm, but that may change due to weather. Summer arrived today, just about one month late as temperatures soared into the high eighties. Not that hot, its just that we are more used to fall temperatures this summer.
Polo Do 13 Heathcote Farm 8
Chukkers 1 2 3 4 5 6 Totals
Polo Do 3 4 1 2 1 2 13
Heathcote 1 0 2 2 1 1 8
Matias Bullrich and Michel Dorignac have built themselves a real polo machine for this year’s USPA Eddie Moore. Last year they entered the Eddie Moore for experience. This year their purpose is upgraded a few notches. This year, they entered to win. Polo Do jumped on Heathcote hard in the first two chukkers with a 7-1 start. Then Tatin Zubiaurre went into Tatin mode and showed why he is every bit of 5 goals and more. He matched Polo Do goal for goal and played them 6-6 in the final 4 chukkers. Heathcote just fell too far behind in the first two. The T in Tatin stands for one young and very talented player. This year he has been totally absorbed in helping Oakleigh set up an entire team operation. Today, Tatin left the operation behind and showed back up with a mallet. Polo Do’s Michel Dorignac also showed up with his mallet and used it for a game high of 7 scores. Michel got scoring support from all three of his team members in Polo Do’s victory. There was a scare at the start of the game as Zulu took a hard backhander to the back of his head just behind the ear. To say he had his bell rung would be putting it mildly. He considered sitting down, but that polo adrenaline/addiction thing kicked in and carried him through the remainder of the match..
Longfield Farm 11 Shekomeko Creek 9
Chukkers 1 2 3 4 5 6 Totals
Longfield 3 0 2 3 1 2 11
Shekomeko 2 3 1 1 0 2 9
We anticipated a battle and we got one. Shekomeko took the first half 6-5, mainly due to a strong second chukker where they outscored LF 3-0. However Duke’s LF squad took the second half 6-3 to claim the match. You could hire attorneys to argue whether Longfield won or whether Shekomeko lost. Shekomeko missed a few opportunities that they might put in tomorrow if they were given another chance. However, today, they did not. Shekomeko played to their strength with an overpowering middle of Enrique Zavaleta and Guiili Aguero. Thats a 11 plus goal middle against LF’s 8 goal middle of Carlos Arellano and Juan Olivera. However, LF also had Steve Orthwein at 4 goals, who would be the key factor for LF. If Carlos, Juan, and Stevie could play around Shekomeko’s middle, their prospects looked good. There were times they did not do that and Shekomeko capitalized, and there were times LF executed perfectly, enough times to be moving to the Finals of the Eddie Moore. Carlos Arellano made two clutch goals in the sixth, one with a beautiful backhander assist from Juan Olivera that could have been the tying goal for Shekomeko. HUGE play for LF by Olivera…..HUGE. And what of Longfield’s form,er teammate, now opponent.
Well now… Henry/Enrique has been battered around a bit. He has had back troubles earlier this summer, and then was nearly knocked out when his horse rolled over him this past Sunday. Henry is out there today with a head that looks better suited for Halloween right now, as opposed to the usual face that causes most women to melt. As a matter of fact guys, all you eligible bachelors, this would be a great week to hang out with Henry…you might have a chance. Hurry before his swelling goes down and he starts walking on water again. In any event, Henry is not only a polo player, he is a class act.
So we have arrived at the 2007 USPA Eddie Moore Finals set for Saturday.
Congratulations Matias and Duke, congratulations Polo Do and Longfield Farm…one of you will walk away with those beautiful Rich Roenisch Bronzes and the 2007 Title.
Friday “Nuevo Escocia Cup” Finals at 3pm
Tomorrow’s match will be the new Nuevo Escocia Cup at 3pm, at Mashomack. Playing for that title will be Don Langlois’s Buena Vista, John Klopp and Bruce Colley’s joint effort, Smithfield/Supersize, and possibly a reconfigured Ramirez Financial in an exciting round-robin Finals.
Umpires are Michel Dorignac and Carlos Arellano third