Tommy Biddle scored nine goals in leading Spartacus to a perfect 3-0 record and a berth in the league championship. (Photo by David Lominska)
A balanced Spartacus attack (Jason Crowder, Felipe Viana and Tommy Biddle) broke Friday night’s game against Priscus (Jeff Hall, Nic Roldan and Facundo Obregon) wide open at the Equestrian Village (EV) of Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, with nine goals in the final chukker to register a crushing 18-10 win and solidify a berth in the $50,000 GLADIATOR POLO™ League Championship final at 8pm on Saturday, April 8th, where they will face Spiculus (Sebastian Merlos, Pelon Escapite and Juan Martin Zubia)
In a cautiously-played opening chukker, Nic Roldan scored the first goal for the early 1-0 Priscus lead. Spartacus fought back with Jason Crowder scoring the only other goal of the period to tie it up at 1-1.
Arena 10-goaler Tommy Biddle lit the crowd up in the second chukker, scoring on an 80-yard 2-point goal as Spartacus stretched their lead to 3-1. An ensuing Priscus foul sent Biddle to the penalty line where he converted from 15-yards out, 4-1. Roldan rallied for Priscus, weaving through the Spartacus defenders and putting the final goal of the period into the Spartacus goal. Spartacus continued to lead, however, 4-2.
Another third chukker penalty goal from Biddle had Priscus trailing by three goals, 5-2, but Priscus continued to press their attack. Roldan’s third goal of the night ended the scoring in the first half with Spartacus controlling the game and holding a 5-3 advantage after the first three chukkers.
Both offenses exploded in the fourth period, scoring three goals apiece. Spartacus picked up two goals from Crowder and a single score from Felipe Viana while Priscus responded with a goal from Facundo Obregon and a pair of goals from Roldan. Spartacus continued to lead, 8-6, but it appeared that Priscus found their offense and were prepared to break through the Spartacus defense as the game progressed.
Obregon powered a tail-shot into the Spartacus goal from the two-point mark to tie the game at 8-8. Roldan’s sixth goal of the game gave Priscus their first lead of the game since the opening chukker, 9-8. With time running out, Biddle converted a penalty shot for the final goal of the chukker, leveling the score at 9-9.
Crowder and Obregon exchanged goals in a back-to-back fashion as the sixth and final period got underway, 10-10, but that would be where the Priscus rally stalled. Biddle gave Spartacus the go-ahead goal, 11-10, on another penalty shot and followed it up with a 2-point penalty goal from the 25-yard mark to make it 13-10. Viana got into the act adding a pair of two-point goals of his own while Biddle tallied his ninth goal of the match. Roldan scored teh final goal of the game in what turned into an 18-10 Spartacus rout.
Biddle led all scoring with nine goals (five on penalty shots). Viana scored five goals and Crowder added four goals for the win. Roldan’s six goals led the Priscus offense with Obregon adding four goals in a losing effort.