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The fight for the lead in the Gold Cup of the DR Polo Challenge intensifies week after week and below we bring you the results of this past weekend’s action, Friday – Sunday, when the Listin Diario Cup took place along with the last matches for qualification.
Two games in Dominican Republic:
La Carbuccia 10 vs. Casa de Campo 8
An early lead stamped out by a rampaging Donovan; Casa de Campo built on their handicap goal advantage with two goals right off the throw in by Pieres, while Zorilla and Donovan only managed one each. In the second chukka Pieres and Tejeda swapped goals so Casa de Campo retained the lead. Carbuccia stepped it up in the third with Donovan powering in two and Brane adding one. Casa de Campo had no reply and went off at half time down by two goals. Chukka number four saw no mercy from Donovan, as he scores a hat trick – one of them another stupefying penalty from the boards, just metres away from the half-way line. Donoso and Pieres threatened a tie with one goal each in the last two chukkas but in the last two minutes of the game a foul from Pieres gave the ball back to the mighty Donovan for a sixty that he scored, and another foul in the last 20 seconds that gave it to him again. He didn’t score this time but Casa de Campo were denied their comeback. MVP: Bete Donovan
Pitirri Potranca 12 vs. Agualinda 8
Pitirri Potranca took a 12 – 8 win over Agualinda in the day’s second contest. Pitirri/Potranca built an early 4-0 lead by the end of the first chukka and widened to 6-4 by half time, despite Agualinda outscoring them 3-2 in the second chukka. However, few goals were scored in the following chukkas; with an average of 2 goals per chukka, Pitirri Potranca managed to remain in the lead and hold Agualinda back to secure a very important win.
Listin Diario Cup at Casa de Campo
The first game of the day took place in Lechuza Caracas RD. Cinque Terre, a team led by Nacho Novillo Astrada, tested once again the killer combo of the two players with perfect handicap 10 Pelon Stirling and Juanma Nero until halftime. Both players were only able to score once each while Nacho scored two in the first half. It was only in the fourth chukka when Lechuza managed to take a steady pace with a goal from Victor Vargas. Then it was easier to control Cinque Terre. When Nero scored again in the 5th chukka, the game was for Lechuza. It ended 5-3 for Lechuza with Juanma Nero as the MVP.
Meanwhile, in Casa de Campo it was held the Listin Diario Cup. Pitirre was under pressure from the beginning, during this really crowded match on court two. Casa de Campo fought hard, scoring early and took the lead thanks to the brilliant moves of Pieres, Araya and Donoso. In the second half Collardin stood out, and then the game ended 13-8 for the home team, while the MVP was Thomas Pieres. After the game, there was an after-polo event with live DJs. An unforgettable Polo Challenge day, with a high level of polo.
Last qualifying round: Lechuza, Los Samanes, Los Establos & Cinque Terre in semis
Los Establos have experienced a renaissance, bolstered mostly by their horse lists reaching full potential. They are now however in a new league so to speak and became one of the principle obstacles to any team wishing to make it through to the semi-finals. The game pitted the Toccalino brothers against each other once again, and they notched up 9 goals between them. Cubi scored 6 of those while his teammates scored 4. Samanes, a team that always spreads out its goal attribution, fought back to reach 9 to Los Establos 11, but they were unable to achieve the dominance they were previously used to. Meanwhile, La Carbuccia and Agualinda played a tight match at Lechuza Caracas RD. Following a very close contest, La Carbuccia won 6-5. Juan José Brané was named MVP.
Los Samanes will face Lechuza in the semis this week while Los Establos will play Cinque Terre. The Semi Finals begin Wednesday, March 16th!