Bendabout edges past Orchard Hill by 12-11 in US Open Polo Championship
Julio Arellano and Sugar Erskine scored five and four goals respectively, and each had an assist, as Bendabout edged past Orchard Hill by 12-122 in the first round match of the United States Open Polo Championship. The hardly-fought match was contested at
the International Polo Club in Wellington, city of Florida.
A couple of goals from Lucas Criado accompanied by a solitary effort from Pablo MacDonough put Orchard Hill ahead on the scoreboard. MacDonough, the world’s number one player, was on a high verge and started the game in quite a professional way. A merry
defence of Orchard Hill allowed Bendabout only a single goal in the first seven and half minute action. Julio Arellano was the man, who connected on the solitary spot shot and brought his team into the score net. The period ended with Orchard Hill leading
the game by two goals, 3-1.
The foursome of Bendabout cranked up their offence in the second period and received two goals, while holding Orchard Hill scoreless. Arellano notched another two penalty-conversions, while Sugar Erskine managed a field goal to take lead for their foursome.
At the end of the second chukka, Bendabout was leading at the score-board with a narrow one goal, 4-3 advantage.
The third set of play was also dominated by Bendabout, which managed three points, while limiting Orchard Hill for a single goal. The troika of Erskine, Gillian Johnston and Magoo Laprida notched one goal apiece and expanded the Bendabout lead up to three
points. But another Orchard Hill goal went up on the score-board from Criado to finish the first half of play with Orchard Hill trailing by three goals, 7-4.
The fourth and fifth sets of play were quite hard hitting as seven goals were scored in the two chukkas. World Number One, MacDonough, scored three goals of which two were taken on penalty-shots, while other from the field. Hector Galindo also accounted
for a single goal in the period and made the game more interesting.
Laprida and his team-mate, Johnston, scored a couple of goals for Bendabout and took a narrow one goal lead in the game. But MacDonough through a counter-offence tied the knots at nine-all at the end of the five frames.
The foursome of Bendabout succeeded to draw the first blood in the final set of play. Erskine and Arellano nailed one goal apiece and expanded the lead up to two scores. But MacDonough contributed for another goal to creep the score close.
Erskine of Bendabout scored a goal from the field to make their grip strong over the game. The strikers of Orchard Hill carried out numerous attacks, but could only get one point. With seconds left on the clock, Bendabout committed a foul and gave Orchard
Hill a chance to score, which they did not miss. MacDonough though scored off the penalty-shot but all in vain. Bendabout rode way the field with a 12-11 triumph and earned better position in the game.
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