Recap: Flat Out, Newport qualified for Grand Champions Cup’s final
Newport and Flat Out qualified for final after thrashing Elangeni Ranch and Barbarossa Leather in the semi-finals of Grand Champions Cup held at Grand Champions Polo Club and Palm City Polo Club in Florida.
The backbreaking matches between Newport and Elangeni Ranch and Flat Out versus Barbarossa Leather were played in the semi-finals. Robert Orthwein, Paul Knapp and Brandon Phillips rendered outstanding performances in the semi-finals and lead their teams
in the final of Grand Champions Polo Cup.
Newport defeated Barbarossa Leather in the first semi-final of the tournament after a tough competition. The score was equalled at the end of regulation time; however Lucas Lalor of Flat Out scoring a goal in extra-time won the semi-final and qualified for
the final match. The match was quite hitting and entertaining as 29 goals were scored from duo foursomes.
At the start of first chukker, Barbarossa Leather received two goals by handicap and put Flat Out under pressure. Meanwhile, Steven Scott of Flat Out scored back to back goals and equalled the score. Later on Kris Kampsen of Barbarossa Leather marked two
goals on penalty hits while his team-mate Paul Knapp scored another goal. Matias Sosa of Barbarossa Leather hit another goal, which was replied by a goal of Brandon Phillips of Flat Out. The first chukker of the semi-final was ended at 5-4.
Paul Knapp and Brandon Phillips scored two goals and upped the lead of Flat Out. The Captain of Barbarossa Leather, Leo Mandelbaum scored another goal and finished the chukker at 7-6 score.
Barbarossa Leather rendered outstanding performance in the third frame of the game, while Flat Out remained scoreless in the chukker. Kris Kampsen, Joy Casey and Sosa scored three goals and again upped the lead by two goals.
At the start of the second half, Brandon Phillips accounted for two goals; however, Leo Mandelbaum answered with a wonderful goal by hitting a neck shot.
Every player of Flat Out scored a goal in the fifth frame of the game in reply of the two goals of Casey of Barbarossa Leather. The score was 13-12 at the end of second last chukker.
Kris Kampsen of Barbarossa levelled the score at 13-13 by scoring fourth goal of the game. Withal, Flat Out’s Paul Knap again extended the lead with his fifth goal. In an interesting move, Leo Mandelbaum succeeded to level the match in last fourteen seconds
of the regulation time. He scored a goal on penalty shot and made the match more interesting. The score was evened at the end of the regulation time.
The duo foursomes started an aggressive game in the sudden-death extra time to win a berth in the final of Grand Champions Cup. Lucas Lalor of Flat Out succeeded to take the ball under control and hit it downfield goalposts for victorious score of the game.
Brandon and Paul Knapp scored five goals each, while Steven Scott accounted for three goals besides two goals off Lucas Lalor.
From the opponent’s side, Kampsen marked four goals while Leo Mandelbaum and Casey apiece scored three goals. Barbarossa obtained two goals by handicap while two goals were scored by Sosa.
Newport defeats Elangeni Ranch
In the second semi-final of Grand Champions Cup, Newport defeated Elangeni Ranch foursome by 9-7 score and confirmed its berth in the final of the tournament.
Newport’s Robert Orthwein scored four goals in the game and made the victory possible for his squad.
In start of the first chukker, Elangeni Ranch obtained two goals by handicap while Sugar Erskine added a single score from the field goal. Robert Orthwein and Hector Galindo of Newport side accounted for two goals before the end of first seven and half minutes
of the match. The duo foursomes entered in the second chukker with 3-2 score.
Gene Goldstein the Captain of Newport marked a goal in start of the second frame of the match and levelled the score at 3-3. Elangeni Ranch remained scoreless in the second chukker.
Carlos Baez of Elangeni Ranch marked a goal in third chukker, which was answered by two goals of Orthwein and Goldstein. Newport foursome took one goal lead at the end of third chukker.
The lead of Newport side stretched out with the third goal of Orthwein, however Brain Street the Captain of Elangeni Ranch cut the lead down by scoring a goal. The first chukker of the second half was concluded at 6-5 score.
Orthwein and Goldstein in start of the fifth chukker scored single goal apiece and blocked the strike of Elangeni Ranch. The duo foursomes moved forward with 8-5 score towards the last frame of the game.
Elangeni Ranch’s Sugar Erskine and Baez reduced the lead by marking two goals in the final chukker, which were answered by final goal of Hector Galindo to mark the victory for his foursome. Newport achieved the place in the final of Grand Champions Cup against
Flat Out.
The final will be played between Flat Out and Newport, while the consolation match for the third place will be played between Barbarossa Leather and Elengeni Ranch at Grand Champions Polo Club.
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