Stomping divots at halftime on the river Ground in Midhurst.
Sumaya (Ahmad Aboughazale, Tomas Garbarini, Facundo Sola and Hilario Ulloa) got out to a quick start Thursday afternoon, charging out to an early 4-2 lead over Lucchese (John Muse, Mark Tomlinson, Javier Novillo Astrada and Jaime Huidobro) in opening round play of the 2012 Veuve Clicquot British Open for the Gold Cup at Cowdray Park’s River Field in Midhurst.
Second chukker action slowed down with the two teams exchanging single goals. After two chukkers Sumaya maintained a two goal lead, 5-3.
Lucchese stepped it up a notch in the third. Outscoring Sumaya 3-2, Lucchese cut the lead to a single goal, 7-6, to end the first half of play.
Astrada stirred it up for Lucchese in the fourth, leading Lucchese to score three goals in the fourth chukker. Sumaya tallied two goals in the chukker, but it was all even at 9-9 when the final horn sounded at the end of the chukker.
Hilario Ulloa led a fifth chukker Sumaya rally that garnered them three goals. Lucchese was held to a single goal, and fell behind 12-10 with one chukker left in regulation play.
Lucchese and Sumaya exchanged goals in the final chukker, each scoring a pair. Sumaya wound up on the winning side of the 14-12 final. Lucchese
Continuing play in the British Open is scheduled for Saturday, June 29th with Enigma (1-0) facing La Bamba de Areco (1-0) followed by a contest between Zacara (1-0) and Salkeld (0-1).