White Birch defeat Heathcote 15-13 to reach Hampton Cup Finals – Polo Update
Fred Mannix delivered the game winning performance and scored ten times to carry White Birch to a 15-13 victory over Heathcote in the semi-final match of the Hampton Cup being contested at the Bridgehampton Polo Club.
As per the intensity of the competition, the game between the two teams started at a very fast pace. White Birch awarded three goals to Heathcote in the head of fewer handicaps. However, the game opened with a brilliant goal in the hands of Fred Mannix.
In the later time, Marino Gracida scored a goal and reduced the lead down to a single score. Tommy Biddle opened his scoring account and stretched Heathcote’s edge up to four. However, the players from White Birch were not in the mood to end the first chukka
with such a great goal difference. Mannix marked his second goal of the day and closed out the chukka with a 4-3 edge.
The game further entered into another phase of interest when both teams locked horns after the second set of play. The White Birch team committed mistakes that awarded goals to Heathcote. Biddle scored off a couple of penalty shots and extended the score
up to six. From the other side, Fred Mannix made full length rides and earned three consecutive goals in the seven and half minutes of play. Both White Birch and Heathcote reached a stalemate at six-all at the end of the second chukka.
At the start of the third set of play, both started a fast paced game in order to get ahead. Mariano Aguerre scored off a penalty shot to put White Birch ahead at the scoreboard. In the later time, Adam Lindeman and Mannix scored one goal each and stretched
out the lead up to nine. From the other side, Biddle could only score one goal through a penalty conversion and showed their presence on the field. The first half of play was completed with Heathcote trailing by two goals at 9-7.
Interestingly, the fourth chukka of play was completely dominated by White Birch which obtained four more goals while holding Heathcote scoreless in the seven and half minutes of action. Mannix marked a pair of unanswered goals in the opening minutes while
his team-mates Gracida and Aguerre added one goal each in the later period and took the lead to an insurmountable six goals, 13-7.
In the second last set of play, Mannix notched another two goals through penalty conversions and took the game into their favour. From the other side, Biddle and Naco Taverna scored one each and attempted to make a comeback into the game.
The last chukka belonged to Heathcote which obtained four goals but to no avail. Nick Manifold added two goals while his team-mates Taverna and Biddle added one each and lost the game at 15-13.
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