First Tournament of the Season
November 23rd-24th, 2012
by Dylan Foster
Empire’s polo arena was the scene for the first polo action of the 2012-13 season. Four teams signed up into two flights of arena action.
In the first game was Caldwell Banker 1: Lyn Cobb (-1); Madelyn Cobb (1); Jane Isquth (0) vs. Rancho Esperanza: Joey Gallemore (0); Lolo Payan (2); Susie Anthony (-1) (Susie was later replaced by her husband Joe after injuring her knee). Despite a valiant effort from Coldwell Banker 1 and Madelyn Cobb, who led her team with 7 goals, they were overwhelmed 23-10 by a strong Rancho Esperanza squad led by a red hot Lolo Payan. He was the high-scorer with 9 goals.
The second match of the day was a higher goal affair with a 6-goal Coldwell Banker 2 team: Scott Walker (0); Madelyn Cobb (1); Jared Sheldon (5) vs. a 3 goal PBLA team: Hayward Pardue (0); Cameron Smith (1); Lolo Payan (2).
This game was fast-paced with both Jared and Lolo captaining well-organized and disciplined teams. It began with Coldwell Banker 2 taking charge and quickly eliminating PBLA’s handicap advantage to lead after the first chukka by a score of 5-4. In the second and third chukkas, the action was intense, the teams battled back and forth, mounting strong offensive charges only to be turned back by equally strong defenses to finish the third chukka with Coldwell Banker 2 still leading by 1 at 10-9. In the fourth chukka Lolo Payan and the PBLA team turned up the heat with Lolo first tying the game, then taking the lead only to have Jared Sheldon tie it all back up at 11. When the dust had settled on Jared’s charge to goal there was 15 seconds left on the game clock and the umpire was bowling in at center. This time it was Lolo who took control and assaulted the goal only to have the ball careen off a pony in the goal mouth. Hayward Pardue saw the rebound, pounced on it and blasted it home to seal the win 12-11 for PBLA in the closing seconds of the match.