Hawks versus Valiente: US Open Polo Championship Preview
The team of Valiente is all set to take on the red-hot, Hawks, in the quarter-final game of the United States Open Polo Championship at the International Polo Club in Wellington, Florida on Sunday, April 10, 2011.
Hawks
They are just hovering above the relegation zone with impressive three wins and are one of the unvanquished teams of the mega 26 goal handicap tournament. The team has had a mixed season with few wins and as well some losses.
The Hawks' team have seen a revival in the recent season and made the audience amazed with their impressive performances. They played three games in the the US Open and have not lost any contest so far. In the first game, they thrashed Piaget with a heavy
margin of eight goals (12-8), edged past the Zacara's team by a single point (10-9) and managed a victory over the Faraway by two points (12-10) in the last three appearances, which they played during this tournament. They continued their momentum and won
all the games with a great margin.
The outfit of Hawks received some thirty-four (34) goals and conceded only twenty-seven (27) points in the three matches.
Valiente
The Valiente outfit, though could not win all the previous games in the ongoing tournament, but managed to book a place in the knock-out stage. The team displayed an outstanding performance in the current season, as they clinched the subsidiary title of
the USPA Piaget Gold Cup held last month at the same venue which is International Polo Club.
In the underway US Open Tournament, it lost the first game, but revved it up and won the next two games. Las Monjitas overcome Valiente in the opening game by one goal, (12-11). However, they cranked up their offence and defeated Pony Express with an impressive
seven-goal margin, (14-7) and Orchard Hill with a solitary point (12-11). They scored thirty-seven (37) goals and allowed opponents with only thirty (30) points in the three games that they played in this tournament so far.
In the last season, they were defeated in the hands of Crab Orchard.
Players to watch
Freddie Mannix (Hawks)
Mannix is the player to watch out for in this game, as he is coming off some impressive performances in the last three games. He is quite confident about maintaining his team's winning spot in the quarter-final round.
He has been in superb form for Hawks in the US Open and has obtained some thirteen goals in the three appearances in which he has played. He scored mostly the winning goals for his team and made the victories possible. His coordination with all team-mates
on the field is another prolific attribute of his winning spirit.
Nacho Astrada (Valiente)
The Argentinean attacker opened the tournament impressively and delivered in all the previous games. He was at his best throughout the season and assisted his team for victories on many occasions. In the underway US Open tournament, he added seventeen goals
and played a major part in the triumphs. He will be looking to add more points to his tally in the coming games.
Prediction
The two teams are quite equal, but Hawks has yet to taste defeat in the event. The winning spirit will definitely serve them well and they are expected to win the game by one goal, 10-9.
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