The last league games of the USPA Gold Cup, the second leg of The Gauntlet of Polo, took place on Sunday, March 12, at International Polo Club Palm Beach, as Scone and Coca Cola claimed wins. Tonkawa and Park Place, who played on Saturday, had both already secured places in the semifinal. Scone, La Indiana and Coca Cola will face off in a penalty shootout on Monday. The top two teams will move forward in the tournament.
Sunday’s opener was the much anticipated clash of the father-son duo against the two brothers – Scone with Adolfo and Poroto Cambiaso, and Pilot, with Gonzalito and Facundo Pieres, the latter back in the saddle after recovering from a torn muscle. It was expected to be a close match, but after a 1-all tie in the first, Scone took control of the match. Pilot were unable to stop such a powerful opponent. Poroto Cambiaso was the top scorer of the match, converting six goals, including two in the last chukka to seal the impressive 13-6 win for David Paradice’s team.
Up next, the Sunday game at IPC, saw Coca Cola (with Fran Elizalde filling in for the injured Diego Cavanagh from the third chukka onwards) defeat La Indiana by 14- goals to 10. Gillian Johnston and her boys controlled the match, with a strong performance in attack and defence, while Michael Bickford’s team struggled, the fought back in the fifth chukka, managing to hold Coca Cola scoreless. But Gillian & Co. were not put off – they converted three unanswered goals to outscore La Indiana 3-1 and take the 14-10 victory.
The results mean that a penalty shootout will be held on Monday, March 22, between Scone, La Indiana and Coca Cola. The two winners will join Tonkawa and Park Place in the upcoming semifinals, due on Wednesday, March 24.
The final is scheduled for Sunday, March 28.
The Gauntlet of Polo is streamed live on GLOBAL POLO.
SCONE 13-6 PILOT
Scone: David Paradice 0, Poroto Cambiaso 6 (6 goals), Peke Gonzalez 6 (3), Adolfo Cambiaso 10 (4). Total: 22.
Pilot: Curtis Pilot 0, Keko Magrini 2, Facundo Pieres 10 (3 goals), Gonzalito Pieres 10 (3). Total: 22.
Score Scone: 1-1, 4-2, 6-2, 8-3, 10-4, 13-6.
COCA COLA 14-10 LA INDIANA
Coca Cola: Gillian Johnston 2 (1 goal), Mackenzie Weisz 4 (4), Diego Cavanagh 9 (1 ) (replaced by Francisco Elizalde 9, in the third chukka, due to an injury; 6 goals), Julián de Lusarreta 8 (2). Total: 22.
La Indiana: Michael Bickford 2 (1 gol), Nico Escobar 4 (4), Polito Pieres 10 (5), Jeff Hall 6. Total: 22.
Score Coca Cola: 3-1, 5-3, 7-4, 11-6, 11-9, 14-10.
Sunday Game Prize Giving:
MVP: Francisco Elizalde.
BPP: Open Reebok, ridden by Francisco Elizalde.
USPA Gold Cup: Fixture & Teams
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