Orchard Hill powers a 10-8 win over Bendabout to qualify for Butler Handicap finals
Pablo MacDonough notched five goals, as Orchard Hill powered a 10-8 win over Bendabout in the Butler Handicap, a subsidiary tournament of the United States Polo Association Piaget Gold Cup. The underlying semi-final between the two outstanding foursomes
was contended at the International Polo Club in Wellington, Florida.
The game opened in quite an aggressive way, but both teams could not make a huge margin in the first seven and half minute action. MacDonough scored the first goal of the day and put Orchard Hill ahead. But Gillian Johnston, the skipper of Bendabout, marked
a field goal and had it all even at one-all. It was the only offence from the two sides and they went into the second frame with 1-1 dead-lock.
The second set of play was dominated by Bendabout which received three goals, while holding Orchard Hill only for a single point. The trio of Bendabout including Julio Arellano, Magoo Laprida and Johnston scored one goal apiece and took lead in the game.
Lucas Criado of Orchard Hill converted a penalty-shot and cut the lead down to two goals at the end of the second frame, 4-2.
The offence from the duo sides again cooled down in the third set of play and both swapped one goal in the period. MacDonough nailed a goal for Orchard Hill, while Arellano managed it for Bendabout. The first half of play concluded with Bendabout hanging
on to a two-score, 5-3 advantage.
Both teams attempted to crank up their offence in the game, but could only score one goal each in the seven and half minute of play. The two foursomes showed stiff defence on the field and brushed aside numerous strikes from the either side. Criado opened
the offence in the second half and notched a goal from the field. But it was countered by a strike from Johnston in the very next minute.
The fifth set of play started with a goal from Criado, while MacDonough nailed three goals of which two were taken on penalty-shots, while other from the field. Arellano notched a solitary goal from the field to remain in the game. Orchard Hill took the
lead by a single point, 8-7 with one chukka left to play.
Orchard Hill succeeded to dominate the game in the final set of play and obtained two goals, while minimising Bendabout only for a single punch. MacDonough and Criado marked a couple of goals and expanded the lead up to three points. Arellano though attempted
to make a comeback into the game, but failed to do so and could only score once. Orchard Hill rode away the field with a commanding 10-8 victory in the subsidiary semi-final and earned a place in the finals.
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