US Polo Recap: Luciano Barbera overpower untested Audi 7-3
Andrew Seibert brilliantly scored three times, as Luciano Barbera powered a convincing 7-3 victory over Audi in the opening match of the Grand Champions Winter Rush Open on 11 February 2011, at the International Polo Club, Wellington.
The difference between getting a challenge under your control and contesting your first match of the season could not have been exemplified more openly than the match between Luciano and Audi. Luciano overpowered a brilliant but untested Audi by four points.
The Luciano team had some key strokes in the inaugural contest, rolled up some from Seibert and Juancito Bollini in the second and third chukkers, as they stretched the lead in the final period to end the long journey with a victory.
The two teams started the game at very high pace and managed four goals in the first chukker. Seibert and Bollini scored a couple of goals, one was taken on a penalty shot while the other from the field, as they put Luciano ahead on the scorecard. The lead
would not last long, as Timmy Sharma in counter-attacks nailed two goals and tied the match at two-all after the first seven and half minute action.
An improved Luciano team took the field in the second period with a renewed aim of picking up their performance.
The second chukker completely belonged to Luciano, as they managed to score a pair of goals while holding opponent, Audi, goalless in the 40-minute action. Tommy Biddle scored off a spot-shot and upped the Luciano’s lead to a single goal, 3-2. Another Luciano
goal went up on the scoreboard from Seibert from the field to end the second round with Luciano hanging on to a two-goal, 4-2 advantage.
The duo foursomes continued to play despite drizzling on the field, making the conditions chilly and pleasant for the players as well the spectators.
Hector Galindo and his team-mate John Muse ran the length of the field and carried out numerous attacks, but failed to level the results.
The third chukker of the match was opened with a classic field goal from Sharma and cut the lead down to one goal. The Luciano attackers were not sitting idle, as Biddle and Seibert scored another couple of goals in the third chukker and regained the lead
in the game. The game slowed down, as only one goal was scored in the remaining time.
Both foursomes displayed wonderful performance in the last part of the game, as they blocked numerous attacks from the either sides. Lucas Lalor, the legendary striker of Luciano, managed to hold the ball away and ran a risk with a long hit at goal which
swept absolutely been the goalposts and extended the lead to four goals after the four-chukker play.
With the final horn of the time sounding, Luciano cruised to a one-sided 7-3 triumph in the opening game of the 12-goal Grand Champion Winter Rush.
Andrew Seibert was one of the highest scorers with three goals, as his team-mate Tommy Biddle added two notches. Juancito Bollini managed to score one goal in the victory.
Timmy Sharma, from the Audi team, scored all three goals in the four-chukker competition. It was not enough, as Audi lost by four points. Luciano’s strength never allowed Audi to get into the match, as they dominated from the start.
Tags: