Zacara (Facundo Pieres, Lyndon Lea, Rodrigo Andrade and Matt Perry) got down to business from the opening throw-in as they rang up three straight scores in Sunday’s opening game of the 2013 Veuve Clicquot British Open for the gold Cup at Cowdray Park. Les Lions (Henry Fisher, Agustin Merlos, Sebastian Merlos and Joachim Gottschalk) managed to get on the scoreboard before the first chukker ended, but trailed 3-1.
Zacara team captain Lyndon Lea trying to recapture the British Open and sweep the high goal season.
Second period play saw a hear repeat of the first as Zacara took control of the flow of the game. Three more Zacara goals went unanswered as Les Lions struggled to find a way through the stubborn defense of their opponents. Between the offensive play of Facundo Pieres and the powerful backup provided by Brazilian 8-goaler Rodrigo Andrade, Les Lions were holding on for dear life. The contributions of Zacara team captain Lyndon Lea and Matt Perry can’t be overlooked when you consider the talent on the Les Lions lineup. After two chukkers Zacara held a commanding lead, 6-1.
The Zacara offensive surged waned in the third chukker, but the vigilant defense continued. Zacara added another goal to their total while shutting out the Les Lions offense for the second consecutive period. At the end of the first half a powerful Zacara team rode off the field with a six goal, 7-1 lead.
Zacara reeled off two more goals in the fourth before Les Lions finally responded with a goal of their own. Zacara continued to dominate in a 9-2 game.
Les Lions scored twice in the fifth as a domineering Zacara team coasted, but there was no sign of the Tincho Merlos that set a Gold Cup scoring record in 2011 with 51 goals. The chukker ended with Les Lions cutting the Zacara lead to five goals, 9-4, with one period left in regulation time.
Les Lions scored two more goals in the final chukker, but when the final horn sounded it was Zacara who recorded their third win, 9-6. The loss drops Les Lions to 1-2 while Zacara remains undefeated at 3-0.
SALKELD 8, HB POLO 7
Expectations weren’t big for the second match of the day
with the contest between Salkeld (Nick Clarke, James Beim, Miguel Novillo Astrada and Max Routledge) and HB Polo (Ludovic Pailloncy, Ignacio Toccalino, Pite Merlos and Sebastian Pailloncy) featuring a pair of teams who were winless between them.
Salkeld entered the game with an 0-2 record with losses to Twelve Oaks (11-10) and Zacara (15-7) while HB Polo carried an 0-3 record into the fray with losses to Les Lions (11-5), Twelve Oaks (8-6) and Zacara (11-4).
Tentative play characterized the opening chukker with Salkeld scoring the only goal. Defenses were solid, but an offense punch wasn’t present for either team.
The two teams traded goals in the second, but there was no explosion. Each team registered a single goal, and Salkeld continued to lead by one goal, 2-1.
Two more goals were scored in the course of the second chukker, with each side scoring once. At the end of the first half an anemic offensive display had Salkeld in front, 3-2.
Miguel Novillo Astrada felt sick and sat down after the third chukker. His brother Alejandro Novillo Astrada replaced him, but the pace continues to be sticky and sluggish. Salkeld managed to extend their lead to two goals at the end of fourth chukker, 4-2.
The addition of Alejandro Novillo Astrada to the Salkeld lineup recharged the team as they added two more goals to their total, but HB Polo found themselves energized as well. With their biggest offensive production of the day they scored three times and came within a goal of Salkeld at 6-5 at the end of the period.
HB Polo tried it up to open the sixth chukker, but Salkeld responded with a go-ahead goal, 7-6. HB Polo wasn’t going to go quietly, and tied it up again at 7-7. Salkeld scored the game winner as time ran out, registering their first win of the tournament. HB Polo ended their run with four straight losses, 0-4.
Play continues in the Veuve Clicquot British Open for the Gold Cup on Monday, July 8 with two games slated to be played. Dubai (3-0) will play Enigma (1-2) in the 1PM contest while Black Bears will take the field against La Bamba de Areco in the 3PM game. Dubai has already qualified for the quarterfinals, but La Bamba de Areco needs a win to advance.