The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
PALM BEACH: FOUR 26-goal games went off today and only 4 went home with clovers and only two are headed to the Piaget Gold Cup Finals. Audi and Lechuza head on to Sunday’s main game. In two very fun to watch matches it was Las Mojintas (LM) leading for 5 chukkars and 6 minutes when Audi tied it up it and it went into OT. A quick foul by A. Merlos (AM) sent the Audi boys to the line and into the finals. It was a game that seemed all Las Monjitas for the early part of the game as they were was up 3 to1 at the end of the first chukker. By the 3rd chukker at one time it was 5 to 1 and G. Pieres 2 came up with a huge goal to end the 3rd and get some momentum back. They tied the 4th and never stopped coming and they scored the goal that tied it up in the sixth, very late and then lost a throw in. Camillo got a bit over excited and missed a big chance to be the hero. Audi never led in this game, they just finished first as they never led until they scored in OT and the game was over. However they will be there Sunday at 3 PM and they deserve to be there as G. Pieres 2 is still a man among boys on any pitch.
Game 2 was very similar as Zacara came out on fire and lit up the board often getting a goal by handicap and scoring 3 in the first chukker up by 4 to 1 and increasing it to 5 to 3 in the second, losing the chukkar by 1. They then rallied in the 3rd winning by 1 and finishing at ½ time up 8 to 5, but the 4th it was a one way show. The white jerseys of the Owls started to sail and they came out smoking and won the chukkar by a score of 4 to 1 and trailed by 1 on a fantastic goal by Zacara to finish ahead by 1. It was tied through the fifth and most of the 6th, but it was a chance to tie turned back and a fantastic shot by Nero to end the game. There were some great shots and plays by both patrons were seen today. Lyndon Lea and Victor Vargas both proved they were not here just to watch. They both had a visit with the medics, but stayed in the saddle for the final bell.
A great day of POLO and it will continue. It maybe dry in Florida, but if you come here to watch Polo this year it is on schedule and the fields are doing fine. So what could have been a game of brothers vs. each other it is no longer going to happen. It will be AUDI and Mark Ganzi leading Gonzalo Pieres and Nicolai Pieres and the Brazilian Master, R. Andrade, against a very tough team of Lechuza with Captain Victor Vargas. Lechuza has 10 goal Juan Martin Nero, Sapo Casset and Nico Espain, so buckle on your party shoes and come on out to IPC POLO.
See ya