US Polo Recap: Patagones victorious over Faraway in Ylvisaker Cup
Legendary polo player, Memo Gracida scored seven times to carry the Patagones to a 13-11 triumph over Faraway at the ongoing Ylvisaker Cup being held at the International Polo Club, Wellington.
The second win in the tournament not only improved the position of the Patagones, but also pushed them into the next round. The Patagones, with back and forth attacks put Faraway under intense pressure in the six-chukker action, as they managed to score
thirteen goals against the eleven of Faraway.
The duo foursomes started the game in quite an aggressive way, as they scored six goals in the first seven and half minutes of action. Julio Arellano marked a couple of goals at the very start of the game to put his team ahead in the match. The lead would
not last for long, as Memo Gracida and Carlos Avendano tied the score at two-all. Another Patagones goal went up on the scoreboard from Martin Donovan which was countered by a penalty shot from Julio Gracida to level the game. The period ended in a 3-3 deadlock.
It was a unique contest, as a father Memo Gracida and his son Julio Gracida were head-to-head in the match from opposing sides.
Junior Gracida notched another two goals to put Faraway ahead in the match, as the Patagones stormed back, scoring three goals. Two goals were scored by Memo Gracida while another from Martin Donovan. The Patagones snuck ahead a narrow one goal, 6-5 lead
at the end of the second chukker.
The third set of play completely belonged to the Patagones, as they scored one goal while holding Faraway scoreless. The Faraway team put up a hard fight in the period, but were unable to post the ball against the Patagones side. Memo Gracida nailed a solitary
goal to conclude the first half play with the Patagones holding a two-goal lead, 7-5.
The Patagones’ defensemen kept Faraway at bay in the fourth cukker, as they scored two goals. Memo Gracida and Donovan converted a pair of penalty shots and extended the lead to four goals, 9-5. The period ended with Faraway trailing 9-5 with two chukkers
left to play.
Faraway cranked up its offense in the second to last chukker, as both foursomes exchanged three goals in the seven and half minute play, 12-8. Julio Gracida, Gaston Laulhe and Arellano scored one goal each for Faraway, while Gonzalo Avendano and Memo Gracida
added two and one points respectively for the Patagones. The Patagones at the end of the period maintained a four-goal advantage and went into the final set of play.
The final chukker was opened with a fine goal from Julio Gracida, which was countered from his father Memo Gracida to retain the lead. Arellano and Laulhe added one goal apiece in the last chukker, but these could not save them from defeat.
As the final horn sounded, the Patagones were victorious by two goals, 13-11, as they move ahead in the tournament.
The highest goal scorer of the match was Patagones’ Memo Gracida with seven points, as his team-mate Donovan added three goals. Gonzalo Avendano and Carlos Avendano scored two and one goal each for the win. From Faraway, Julio Gracida scored five times while
Arellano and Laulhe notched four and two goals respectively in the loss.
It was a hard fought contest, as once again, the Patagones have shown their dominance during the tournament. It will be exciting to see how the Patagones manage to carry this winning momentum forward into the next round.
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