By Alex Webbe
Pony Express/Newport and Power Horse battled it out on the playing fields of the Grand Champions Polo club Sunday morning with Pony Express/Newport riding past Power Horse in the final half to score a 10-7 win in the finals of the 2011 USPA Sun Cup.
Pony Express/Newport got on the scoreboard first on a goal from Gene Goldberg, with Power Horse 7-goaler Tommy Biddle converting a penalty shot for the equalizer at the end of the chukker.
Tomas Goti’s first goal of the day put Pony Express/Newport back on top, but the lead was short-lived. Once again it was a Biddle penalty conversion that knotted it up at 2-2 to end the period.
The Power Horse attack seemed to get on track in the third chukker picking up a pair of goals from Juan Bollini while shutting down the Pony Express/Newport attack and evening the game at 4-4 at the end of the first half.
Pony Express/Newport erupted for three goals in the fourth chukker, getting single scores from Lucas Lalor, Goti and Goldberg. Power Horse was limited to a single goal from the field from Biddle. The period ended with Pony Express/Newport boasting a 7-5 lead with two chukkers to play.
Power Horse fought to get back into the game in the fifth, but had shot after shot at goal deflected or turned away. The Pony Express/Newport attack was no more successful, but continued to hold a two goal lead, 7-5.
Bollini’s third goal of the game cut the Pony Express/Newport lead to a single goal, 7-6, but Goti quickly responded with a score, 8-6. Biddle converted a penalty shot for a goal to make it a one goal lead once again, 8-7, but that would be the last Power Horse rally. Goals from Goti and Goldberg closed out the final chukker with Pony Express/Newport taking the 2011 Sun Cup with a 10-7 win.
Goti led the Pony Express/Newport attack with four goals. Goldberg scored three times and Lalor added a goal for the victory. Pony Express/Newport received two goals by handicap.
Biddle scored four goals for Power Horse with Bollini adding three goals in a losing effort.
Illusioneta, a six-year-old Chestnut mare was honored as Best Playing Pony.
LA PASION/PORT MAYACA SCORE ROUND ROBIN VICTORY
In a three-team round-robin consolation match, La Pasion/Port Mayaca eked out a win on net goals with a 1-1 record.
La Pasion/Port Mayaca tied Piaget, 4-4, before going on to defeat Elangeni Ranch, 7-5 for the ultimate victory.
Piaget finished just one goal behind La Pasion/Port Mayaca with a similar 1-1 record. Piaget had tied La Pasion/Port Mayaca, but managed only a single goal win over Elangeni Ranch, 6-5, with a net +1 goal while La Pasion/Port Mayaca finished with a +2 net goals.