The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
In the finals of the Lucchese Heritage Cup, with the host team just beating the cr– out of KR, it just seemed like for some reason it is not over yet and it was NOT. After one chukkar it was 2 to 0 and in the 2nd chukker, 6 to 1 and KR scored with just 1 minute to go in the 2nd. After 3 it was improving for KR. They were only down by 3, but it was 1/2 time and time to relax. With a good 1/2 time show and a decent crowd it was time to well, WAKE UP and they did. In the 4th chukker, KR came within 1. At 8 to 7 , now the pressure is on Lucchese and they knew it, but they managed to tie the 5th and stay in the driver’s seat. The heat was on as KR pushed every play in the 6th and made it a brand new game during the closing minutes of the 6th. They sent the game into sudden death overtime. It was anybody’s game. In OT both teams showed control, but no score until MA shakes a ball loose going north. Jesse Bray gets control and makes a big pass to a flying Kruger. Mr. Kruger does what he does best and put put it thru for the final goal to Win. It was also the first time KR was ahead the whole game … but Guess what? They won!
The final turned out to be a great game despite the early score. I think the visit from Charlie Muldoon helped so much from the USPA. It was a fun game to watch with complete player action … not the Umpires as around 20 fouls were called. The speed of the game made it fun for the crowd and all of us watching.
Some notes on the game …. It was no doubt Jeff Hall and Nacho Badiola ruling the turf for the first 3 chukkers. It was a pack of Cowboys from the Ranch doing it in the 2nd 1/2 as all four were motivated to make it change. Justin was physical, Mike and Jesse were sending it and Kruger, which again I thought was the key, was finishing it. In the end he did finish it with the OVERTIME GOAL.
WELL DONE :
Klentner Ranch : Champs
Jesse Bray
Steve Kruger Mike Azzaro
Justin Klentner
The PCO starts Friday so be there.
see ya