Valiente II/Tonkawa vs. Orchard Hill

03/08/2012, 4:00 pm |

Valiente II/Tonkawa - 16, Orchard Hill - 7

In an impressive display of teamplay and expert mallet work, Valiente II scored a decisive 16-7 win over a struggling Orchard Hill team as USPA Piaget Gold Cup play continued.

Valiente II might have suffered an embarrassing loss in the finals of the C. V. Whitney Cup last week, but they took early control of their match, running up a 6-1 lead after the first two chukkers.

A pressing Valiente II attack forced Orchard Hill fouls that were quickly converted into goals. Three straight penalty gals were scored by 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso before Orchard Hill could react. A closing penalty conversion from Mariano Gonzalez got Orchard Hill on the scoreboard, but after one chukker they trailed 3-1. For the second straight chukker Valiente II scored the first three goals of the period, registering single goals from Alejo Taranco, Cambiaso and Pelon Stirling. A 40-yard penalty goal from Gonzalez kept Orchard Hill in the hunt, trailing 6-2.

Whether Valiente II decided to rest on their laurels or Orchard Hill had a good chukker, the game tightened in the third. The Orchard Hill defense shut out the powerful Valiente II team for the first time all afternoon and scored four unanswered goals to tie it up at 6-6. Penalty goals from Gonzalez and 10-goaler Pablo MacDonough and a pair of goals from the field from Lucas Criado had it all even at the half, 6-6.

What a difference a short intermission can be for a talented polo team that needs to get reorganized. Valiente II charged onto the field in the fourth, scoring three straight goals (Cambiaso, Taranco and Robert Jornayvaz) before a goal from MacDonough interrupted their run. A 60-yard penalty conversion from Cambiaso ended the chukker with Valiente II defending a 10-7 lead.

Four more Valiente II goals went unanswered with Jornayvaz adding two more goals from the field while Taranco and Stirling added single goals. The Orchard Hill offense was silenced as Valiente II found themselves on the winning end of a 14-7 score.

Cambiaso and Stirling scored the final two goals of the 16-7 win.

Cambiaso led the field with seven goals. Jornayvaz, Taranco and Stirling scored three goals apiece.
Gonzalez scored three times for Orchard Hill. Criado and MacDonough added single goals in a losing effort.