Recap: Elangeni and Newport get ahead for final
The crucial semi-finals of Newport versus Audi and Elangeni Ranch versus Cinque Terre ended with the victories of Elangeni and Newport’s foursomes in Elegante Polo Fall Plate Cup at Palm City Polo Club, situated in Boca Raton, city of Florida.
Newport marked victory against Audi in first semi-final of the tournament with narrow margin of 11-10. The aggressive performance of Audi could not help to qualify for final of the event. The classic six goals from the captain of the Newport, Goldstein uplifted
his team in way to the final.
The first chukker of the game started with the two classic penalty hits of Sugar Erskine of Audi foursome, which were countered by three goals of Goldstein, the captain of Newport side. The back to back goals of Sugar Erskine and Peter Rizzo of Audi side
took the lead at 4-3 in second chukker of the game.
In the third frame of the match, captain of Newport, Goldstein marked two goals to cut the lead down, among which one was field goal and other was taken on penalty hit. Another teammate of Goldstein, Stevie Orthwein hit first goal of the game before end
of the first half and advanced the score to 6-4. Audi foursome remained scoreless in the third chukker.
Another pair of goals from Newport side was scored by Stevie and Chris Nevins in the fourth chukker; however, Lucas Lalor and Matias Sosa of Audi’s side answered with single goal apiece. The fourth frame was concluded at 8-6 score.
The duo foursomes scored single goal each in the fifth chukker. Newport’s Nevins scored a goal in reply of the Rizzo’s goal. This chukker was comprised of attacks and counter attacks, however the tight defence of both sides blocked several hits. The duo
squads advanced for final chukker with 9-7 score.
A pair of goals from Erskine was upped the Audi’s score in the final seven and half minutes of the game. Goldstein of Newport marked a goal in reply to the Lalor’s second goal of the game and levelled the score at 10-10 before the expiry time.
Extra-time was given, where duo foursomes used their entire energy to knock down each other. J J Celis missed a winning goal for Newport side. Interestingly the final and winning goal of the match was scored by the hit of horse of Erskine but unfortunately,
it was in his own side. Newport won the game with 11-10 score and reached in the final of the tournament.
Top scorer from winning side was Goldstein with six goals while Nevins and Orthwein marked two hits each. On the other side, Erskine was the highest goal scorer with five goals. Rizzo and Lalor scored two goals apiece while Matias Sosa marked one in the
losing side.
Elangeni overcomes Cinque
In the second semi-final of the tournament, Elangeni Ranch overcame Cinque Terre with 11-10 score in overtime of the game. Elangeni’s Kampsen scored six goals and advanced his team to the final of Polo Fall Plate Cup.
First frame of the game opened with the two handicap goals of Elangeni Ranch side while its captain Brian Street marked another field goal to up the lead to 3-0. However, lead lasted for a short time as Scott, Leo Mandelbaum and Hector Galindo each scored
single goal for the team and tie the score at 3-3.
Second chukker started with two consecutive goals of Joy Casey from Elangeni squad while opponent’s Mandelbaum replied with second goal of the match. Withal, Elangeni by scoring a goal took one goal lead at the end of the chukker.
Kampsen scored first goal of the game on penalty hit and up the score of Elangeni Ranch in the start of third period. Mandelbaum answered from the Cinque side and marked a goal. Scott of Cinque Terre successfully marked a goal at penalty hit, while Carlos
Baez scored a field goal in the opening minutes of fourth frame. The duo foursome moved ahead in the fifth chukker with score, 7-7.
Back to back goals of Kampsen and opponent’s Scott made the match more interesting in the start of the second last chukker. However, Kampsen obtained a score by a go-ahead goal in last minutes of the chukker and gave one goal lead to Elangeni Ranch.
Crazy efforts started in the final chukker of the game, where one was trying to level the score while other wanted to hold the lead. Cinque Terre succeeded to knot the game with the second goal of Scott. Soon after, Baez Scott marked another goal in reply
of the Elangeni’s leading goal and levelled the results at 10-10. Overtime was awarded to make the game decisive.
The both foursomes attempted to press each other in extra-time to qualify for the final. Kampsen of Elangeni side marked a golden goal in last 90 seconds of the match by hitting the ball from 150 yards down the field and confirmed the place in final.
Leading scorers from Elangeni side were Kampsen with six goals, Casey with two and Street with one goal. Scott’s four impressive goals could not save the team from defeat. Among the remaining, Mandelbaum scored three goals, Baez marked two and Galindo accounted
single goal in the loss.
Elangeni and Newport-Barbarossa Leather will face each other in final of the Elegante’ Polo Plate Cup. Among which well performer will definitely acquire the trophy of the tournament.
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