Valiente beat Orchard Hill by 14-10 to win Butler Handicap: Polo Recap
Nacho Astrada notched ten goals and had an assist, as Valiente acquired a commanding 14-10 win over Orchard Hill in the finals of the Butler Handicap, a subsidiary event of the United States Polo Association (USPA) Piaget Gold Cup. The vital final was contested
at the International Polo Club in Wellington, Florida.
The game between the two dazzling foursomes was played on a very high tone, as both sides wanted to take the title of the subsidiary tournament. Legendary player of Argentina, Nacho Astrada, marked the first goal of the day and established their first lead
in the game which lasted till the final horn of the time-completion.
Nacho Astrada scored another three points in the first seven and half minute of which two were taken on penalty-shots, while a single from the field. On the other side, Pablo MacDonough, the world number one player, scored first goal of the day for Orchard
Hill and showed their presence on the field. Later, Hector Galindo earned a point through a field goal and reduced the lead down to two goals, 4-2 at the end of the first chukka.
The second frame completely belonged to Orchard Hill which scored two goals, while they held Valiente score-less in the period. Galindo and MacDonough scored one goal each and tied the knots at four-all after the two chukkas of play.
The Valiente attack resurged again in the third set of play and ran up three goals, while stalling Orchard Hill for a single point. The combination of Astrada brothers, Miguel Astrada and Nacho Astrada, marked two and one goal, respectively and regained
the lead in the game. All-time-point scorer, MacDonough, punched another goal and reduced the lead down to two scores, 9-7 at the end of the first half action.
Both sides, Orchard Hill and Valiente exchanged a couple of goals in the fourth round and made the game more interesting. Nacho and Miguel Astrada scored one goal each for Valiente, while MacDonough managed it for Orchard Hill. The chukka ended with Valiente
hanging on to a two-point, 9-7 advantage.
The strikers of Valiente further cranked up their offence and ran up four goals, while limiting Orchard Hill only for a single goal. Nacho posted the ball three times through field effort and penalty-shots, while Miguel Astrada did it only once in the period.
MacDonough accounted for one goal and trailed by five goals with seven minutes left to play.
MacDonough and his team-mate, Lucas Criado, connected on one spot-shot apiece and closed out Orchard Hill offence in the game. Nacho Astrada supplied his tenth goal of the day and sealed the victory for Valiente at 14-12 in the Butler Handicaps. Valiente
though failed to win the important event, but was able to manage a victory in the subsidiary cup.
Tags: