Zacara will face the Hawks in Barry Finals

By Alex Webbe

Daily News Polo Columnist

Zacara scored a 13-11 win over Lucchese while the Hawks rolled over Patagones, 11-6 Thursday afternoon to set up the Sunday finals of the 2010 Joe Barry Memorial Cup at the International Polo Club in Wellington.

In the early afternoon match, Zacara charged out to an early 3-0 lead over Lucchese after the opening chukker of play and never looked back, as they led the previously undefeated team throughout the contest.

Led by 7-goaler Jeff Hall, Zacara built up a 6-4 halftime lead as Lucchese struggled to find its offense.

Zacara returned to the field for the fourth chukker, scoring three straight goals to go up 9-4 before Lucchese could fight its way back into the contest. Luis Escobar scored a goal from the field and another on a penalty shot. Hall added his third goal of the chukker on a penalty shot as Zacara extended its lead to four goals, 10-6.

Lucchese took the field in the fifth chukker on a mission, and scored three straight goals to climb back into the game. A resolute defense held Zacara scoreless for the first time all afternoon as they cut the Zacara lead to a single goal, 10-9.

Goals from Gonzalo del Tour and Toto Collardin had Zacara ahead 12-9 before Lucchese responded. A single goal from Pancho Bensadon was countered by a penalty conversion from Collardin, and Luis Escobar scored on a penalty shot for Lucchese to end the scoring and give Zacara the 13-11 win and a trip to Sunday’s Joe Barry Memorial Cup finals.

Hall led all scoring with eight goals. Collardin scored three times and del Tour added two goals in the win

Escobar scored seven times for Lucchese. Bensadon added four goals.

“They just outplayed us,” said Lucchese team captain John Muse after the game. “We made them earn it, but they just flat outplayed us.

HAWKS 11, PATAGONES 6

The Hawks ended the day of polo with a resounding 11-6 win over Patagones, the previous tournament winner, in a game that wasn’t as close as the score might indicate.

“Nothing went right for them today,” said polo veteran Hector Galindo from the sidelines. “They didn’t get the bounces, they didn’t get the calls,” he added, “it looked like everyone on the team was flat today.”

Carlos Gracida scored the opening goal f the game, and trailed the Hawks by a modest 3-2 score after the first chukker, but the battle had just begun.

As both defenses tightened, the Hawks shut out Patagones for three consecutive chukkers while putting six unanswered goals on the board to end the fourth period. The Hawks roared out to a towering 9-2 lead as Patagones struggled to find the answer.

Carlos Avendano scored two goals in the fifth chukker while holding the Hawks to a single penalty goal, cutting the lead to six goals while holding Patagones to a lone penalty conversion from Fred Mannix, Jr. The lead was cut to six goals, but the Hawks weren’t about to let Patagones get back into it.

Carlos Avendano scored a goal from the field, but Fred Mannix answered to keep the Hawks lead at six goals, 11-5 as Patagones struggled to find a solution. Carlos Gracida converted a penalty shot for the final goal of the match, but it was the Hawks in the 11-6 win who would be going to Sunday’s Joe Barry Memorial Cup finals where they will meet a very talented Zacara team.

YELLOW CAB 12, WANDERERS/ISLA CARROLL 11

In a 20-goal exhibition match that allowed new high-patron Simon Garber’s Yellow Cab team to get in a practice match before its Sunday noon debut in the Ylvisaker Cup, the newcomer took the contest 12-11 in six chukkers of play.

“Simon (Garber) played quite well,” said 7-goaler Tommy Biddle. “He held his position and score a few goals as well.”

Yellow Cab will begin its high-goal season at noon on Sunday afternoon against Lechuza Caracas.

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TAGS: 2010 IPC, American Polo, Carlos Gracida, Joe Barry Memorial Cup, John Muse, Julio Gracida, Luis Escobar, Polo Players, Polo sport, Polo Tournament, Wellington, Wellington Florida