Lechuza One defeat Valiente to win the Everglades Classic Cup at Wellington – US Polo Update
Toto Collardin managed four goals and had an assist, as Lechuza took Valiente down by a single point and clinched the title of the Everglades Cup being contested at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
The game opened in quite an aggressive way, but both teams could not score many goals in the opening period. Gaston Lisioli scored the first goal of the day through a penalty conversion which was countered by a goal from Robert Jornayvaz. Another Lechuza
goal went up on the scoreboard from Robert Orthwein to conclude the first set of play with Lechuza holding a narrow one goal lead, 2-1.
The team of Lechuza sped up their attacks in the second period and got three more goals while holding Valiente scoreless. Lisioli and his team-mate Collardin scored one goal each and expanded the Lechuza lead up to three points, 4-1.
The attacking players of Valiente started putting in an extra effort to make a come-back into the game, but failed to reduce the wide difference. Jeff Hall and Santiago Bottaro accounted for one goal apiece and cut the Lechuza lead down to a single point.
It was not other than Lisioli who scored the closing goal of the first half of play and regained a two goal lead, 5-3.
The springy defence of Valiente kept Lechuza off the scorecard in the fourth set of play, as the two teams moved into the second last round with Lechuza leading the game. Jornayvaz connected on a long spot shot to creep the score closer. Lechuza was hanging
on to a one score, 5-4 advantage at the end of the fourth chukka.
The second last period was dominated by Lechuza which earned four goals while restricting Valiente only for two points. A balanced Lechuza strike ruined the defence line of Valiente and made their grip strong over the match. Collardin marked a pair of goals
of which one came on a penalty shot while other from the field. Marcos Alberdi and Lisioli added one goal apiece and took an overwhelming lead for Lechuza in the game. Hall was the only point scorer from Valiente who set the pace two times to remain in the
game. Valiente was trailing three goals, 9-6 with one period left to play.
Hall and Bottaro notched one goal each in the final set of play and only one goal away from the lead. Collardin nailed another goal for Lechuza and recovered a two-point, advantage. Though Hall scored off a solitary penalty shot, as the final whistle sounded
and Lechuza won the game and the title of the Everglades Classic Cup at 10-9.
Collardin has been chosen for the Most Valuable Player award owing to his impressive performance in the event including four brilliant goals in the finals. His mare named Nina Milli was chosen Best Playing Pony of the tournament.
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