By Alex Webbe

Valiente struck early and they struck often as they rolled over a talented Bendabout team 14-9 in the semifinals of the 2011 C. V. Whitney Cup at the International Polo Club in Wellington.

A well-coordinated attack had Valiente comfortably ahead 8-2 at the end of the first two chukkers of play Wednesday afternoon as it downed Bendabout 14-9 and earned a berth in Sunday’s finals.

 “I thought we were quicker to the ball than they were today,” said Valiente 8-goaler Polito Pieres.  “As a team we had a very good game,” he added.

Polito Pieres scored two of the first three goals of the game, with Miguel Astrada adding another.  Nine-goaler Julio Arellano converted a penalty shot for Bendabout.  At the end of the first chukker,  Valiente led 3-1.

An invigorated Valiente team returned to the field in the second, scoring four consecutive goals (two from Nacho Astrada, one each from Miguel Astrada and Bob Jornayvaz) before Bendabout could respond.  A goal from the field from Arellano was followed by another goal from Valiente’s Miguel Astrada, and the period ended with Bendabout on the short end of an 8-2 score. 

Arellano converted three penalty shots and scored another goal from the field in the third.  Nacho Astrada scored Valiente’s only goal of the chukker for a 9-6 halftime lead.

Three straight goals from Valiente in the fourth (two from Miguel Astrada and one from Nacho Astrada were answered by single goals from Arellano and Magoo Laprida.  Valiente left the field at the end of four chukkers of play ahead by a 12-8 score.

“The Astradas are such accomplished players,” said Pieres.  I learn so much from them every time we take the field.  It is a real pleasure playing alongside them.”

Pieres was all over the field for Valiente and blended perfectly into the Astrada-led attack.  His play off of the ball was just as impressive as his stickwork on the field, an important factor in the success of the team.

Only two goals were scored in the course of the fifth chukker as Bendabout struggled to mount a rally and Valiente fought to protect its lead.  Miguel Astrada scored his sixth goal of the game for Valiente while Arellano added his eighth goal of the game for Bendabout.  Valiente held the lead at 13-9.

Bendabout continued to struggle with its offense in the final chukker as time after time the Valiente defense defused attacks, passes and shots at goal.  Pieres scored the final goal of the game on a penalty shot for the 14-9 win and a spot in Sunday’s finals against the winner of Thursday’s Lechuza vs. Hawks game.

ZACARA 12, PONY EXPRESS 8

In the second blowout of the day, Zacara ran up a 9-1 halftime lead before riding over Pony Express 12-8 in the semifinals of the Les Armour Cup.  They will go on to play Crab Orchard on Sunday for the subsidiary of the 26-goal C. V. Whitney Cup.

Zacara blanked Pony Express in the first two chukkers, leading 7-0 with Facundo Pieres and Mariano Uranga scoring three goals apiece while 10-goaler Sebastian Merlos added a goal for the lead.

Uranga and Pieres added single goals in the third with Bautista Heguy converting a penalty shot for Pony Express before the halftime break.  The Zacara lead stood at eight goals, 9-1, going into the fourth chukker.

Pony Express team captain Bob Daniels scored the first goal of the second half, with Heguy adding another.  Zacara was held off the scoreboard for the first time all afternoon, but maintained the lead, 9-3.

Two more goals from Heguy in the fifth period cut the lead to four goals, before the Zacara offense could respond.  Goals from the field from Pieres and Merlos kept Zacara ahead, 11-5.

Zacara coasted through the final seven minutes of the match while Pony Express tried to get something going for itself on offense.  Two more penalty conversions from Heguy and a goal from the field from Juan Garcia Grossi were all it could muster while holding Zacara to a single Merlos goal.  The final horn sounded with Zacara breezing through a 12-8 win.

The C. V. Whitney Cup continues at the International Polo club on Thursday when the Hawks will meet Lechuza to determine the other tournament finalist.