US Polo Update: Faraway edge past Valiente 12-10
Julio Arellano and Julio Gracida scored five times each and each had an assist, as Faraway marked a 12-10 win over Valiente in the ongoing US Polo Association Ylvisaker Cup.
The cliff-hanging competition was held at the field of International Polo Club Palm Beach, Wellington, where the two players of Faraway, Arellano and Julio Gracida stole the show to lead their team for victory.
The Faraway players created some key blows in the second half, wrapped up some goals from Gracida in the fourth chukker and stuck with the lead in the last period to conclude a hard fought contest with a triumph.
The opening two chukkers started to aggressive strategies by duo four-somes and eight goals were marked early on.
The first chukker was opened with a classic goal from Marianito Gracida for Valiente which was countered by a pair of goals from Julio Gracida of which one was taken on a penalty shot. Another Faraway goal went up on the score-card from Arellano to end the
first seven and half minute action with Faraway holding a two-goal lead, 3-1.
The second frame was quite fruitful for Valiente, as it obtained three goals in the period and tied the match at four-all while holding opponent, Faraway, only for a single goal.
Miguel Astrada of Faraway scored off three penalty shots at the start of the second chukker to put his four-some ahead on the scoreboard. However, Arellano marked a goal from the field and tied the contest at four-all after the two-frame action.
The Valiente team succeeded to dominate Faraway in the third set of play to obtain a couple of goals while holding the opposition only for a single goal. Jeff Hall converted a spot-shot followed by a goal from the field to put his four-some ahead in the
goal-scoring race. On the other hand, Arellano scored a goal for Faraway and cut the lead down to one goal. The Valiente team snuck ahead a single goal lead at the end of the first half play.
After a short break, the Faraway cranked up its offense and ran up five strikes while holding stunned Valiente goalless. The blazing guns of the Faraway team not only destroyed the defensive line but manage to shut out the attacking players.
Julio Gracida converted three penalty shots at the start of the second half and extended the lead to two goals.
Later on, Arellano and Gaston Laulhe added two goals to the score to increase their lead to four goals, 10-6 at the end of the fourth chukker.
At the start of the second last period, Laulhe and Arellano scored a couple of points to put Faraway ahead on the scoreboard with a six-goal, 12-6 advantage. However, the Valiente team was not ready to give up as Hall marked a goal from the field to remain
in the game. The two teams went into the final set of play with Faraway holding a five-goal lead, 12-7.
The four-some of Valiente took charge in the final chukker of the game but were unable to reduce the lead in the last moments of the game. The trio of Valiente including Marianito Gracida, Hall and Astrada scored one goal apiece but Faraway rode off the
field with 12-10 victory at the completion of the regulation time.
Julio Gracida and Julio Arellano were among the top scorers for Faraway with five goals each while Laulhe notched two goals in the victory.
From the opposing team, Miguel Astrada and Jeff Hall were the leadings scorers of the four-some while Marianito Gracida accounted for two goals in the loss.
Tags: