White Birch defeat Heathcote to lift Monty Waterbury Cup: 16-8 – Polo Update
Fred Mannix impressively scored eight times and had an assist, as White Birch marked a commanding 16-8 win over Heathcote to lift the title of Monty Waterbury Cup being played at the Bridgehampton Polo Club in California on Saturday, August 13.
Tommy Biddle, the veteran player from Heathcote while speaking to the media after losing the grand finale said that there was no disgrace in facing a defeat in the hands of a team like White Birch. He stated, “We played them tough through most of the game.
We were only trailing by a single goal at halftime and were down 9-8 through half of the fifth. We’ve had a good season and there is no shame in losing to a team like White Birch.”
Biddle though was in outstanding form but he could not compete with Mariano Aguerre and Fred Mannix, Jr. in the crucial game. With start of the match, the Heathcote team received three goals in the head of handicap that put them ahead after the first seven
and half minutes of play. Though Heathcote led the first chukka, Mannix was the player from White Birch who opened the field scoring through a penalty conversion. In the concluding minutes, Biddle notched a goal from the field and increased the lead up to
three goals, 4-1.
Following the first chukka, both the teams made their defence tight. Mannix scored off a couple of penalty shots and decreased the Heathcote lead down to a single goal, 4-3 at the end of the second frame.
In the third set of play, the lead changed hands with White Birch which obtained three goals while holding Heathcote only for a single goal. Mariano Gracida flexed his muscles and marked two field goals to put his team ahead on the score-table. In the later
time, Mannix and Biddle exchanged one goal each and first half of play was concluded with White Birch hanging on to a single goal, 6-5.
At the start of the second half, Mariano Aguerre and Gracida scored one goal each and increased the edge up to three goals. From the other side, Nick Manifold and Biddle managed one score each to remain in the game. Mannix added another goal on penalty conversion
and stretched out the lead. Heathcote was trailing by two goals, 9-7 with two chukkas left to play.
Mannix and Peter Brant scored two and one goal respectively for White Birch while Naco Taverna replied by a field goal. Both teams moved into the final frame with White Birch sitting on top by a four-goal, 12-8 edge.
Gracida and Mannix scored one goal each while Aguerre added two in the final action and sealed the victory for White Birch at 16-8. Owing to an outstanding show, Mariano Aguerre was named MVP of the tournament while Safiro of Naco Taverna picked up as Best
Playing Pony of the event.
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