ERG defeat Lucchese to lift USPA Piaget Silver Cup: 16-7 – Polo Update
Miguelito Torres delivered the game-winning performance, as ERG thrashed Lucchese by nine goals, 16-7 in the finals of the USPA (United States Polo Association) Piaget Silver Cup being held at the Santa Barbara Polo Club in California on July 31.
Interestingly, the ERG quartet took revenge from the Lucchese to whom they lost the final match of the Pacific Coast Open Finals back in 2010.
Team Lucchese though delivered impressive performances in the final match but to no avail. Their defensive line failed to impress the ERG attackers and could only score seven goals against the 16 of their rivals.
The Silver Cup for the first time is being competed for in Santa Barbara, therefore all the line-ups upgraded their games for the significant polo tournament. A total of six teams having 20-goal handicaps participated in the crucial tournament. The six line-ups
battled for the title were Audi, Grants Farm, ERG, Lucchese, Piaget and Mansour.
Both finalist squads were flying high on the verge of entering into the field. The ERG line-up was comprised of Scott Wood, Francisco de Narvaez, Miguelito Torres and Sebastian Merlos while Lucchese was consisted of John Muse, Juan Curbelo, Jeff Blake and
veteran Argentinean polo pro Adolfo Cambiaso.
The two teams downed at the field with a mission to knock out either side. Interestingly, both the teams hurled back-to-back fires against each other in the first half of play and increased the suspense. After two chukkas of play, the Lucchese team has had
a single goal, 5-4 lead over ERG. However, the ERG strikers showed outstanding performance in the third set of play and obtained four goals while holding Lucchese goalless in the period. The lead changed hands with ERG, as it was holding a three-goal advantage
at the half-time.
In the fourth frame of action, Sebastian Merlos and his team-mate Paco de Narvaez showed wonderful skill at the mid-field position and assisted striking Miguelito Torres to further expand the lead. After getting brilliant passes from the defending positions,
Torres added three more goals for ERG. It was a lucky day for ERG where not only the players but also the horses played vital role in their triumph.
The ERG team continued a fast paced game in the last two frames and added more goals while holding Lucchese scoreless. ERG outplayed Lucchese in all sections of the game and sealed the victory at 16-7.
Owing to a brilliant performance, Miguelito Torres was selected as Most Valuable Player off the USAP Piaget Silver Cup. He was the real architect of the title victory. Furthermore, Carta Blanca – the mare of Paco de Narvaez was honoured as Best Playing Pony
of the Tournament.
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