Rain and wet fields caused the postponement of the Friday, Feb. 15 quarterfinals of the 2013 Ylvisaker Cup at Wellington’s International Polo Club Palm Beach, but there was plenty to go around last Sunday when the semifinalists of the prestigious trophy were decided. Coca-Cola scored a 12-10 win over Zacara; Lechuza Caracas defeated ERG 10-7; Audi ran away from Villa Del Lago 14-9; and Lucchese rallied to sneak past Piaget 12-11.
Audi opened the day with a 14-9 morning win over a testy Villa Del Lago team that had been averaging more than 12 goals per game while posting a 2-1 record, and found themselves trailing 7-5 at the end of the third chukker. A refreshed Audi team returned to the field in the second half focused and determined. Behind seven goals from American 8-goaler Nic Roldan, Audi outscored Villa Del Lago 9-2 in the final three periods of the game as Audi recorded an impressive 14-9 win and earned a berth in Wednesday’s tournament semifinals.
Coca-Cola and Zacara provided another nail-biter at noon as Julio Arellano scored five of his game-high 10 goals in the second half to lift Coca-Cola to a 12-10 win over a talented Zacara team and capturing another tournament semifinal spot.
Zacara 10-goaler Facundo Pieres scored six goals in the first half as he led his team to a 7-5 halftime lead. Coca-Cola took control of the game in the fourth chukker with Arellano scoring four goals and Sugar Erskine added another while holding Zacara to a single goal from Pieres. At the end of the fourth chukker Coca-Cola had taken a 10-8 lead, a lead they wouldn’t give up as they celebrated the 12-10 win.
Lechuza Caracas took control of their afternoon game with ERG from the very start as they rode on to register the 10-7 win. Lechuza led 5-3 at the end of the first half and then watched 8-goaler Polito Pieres score four of his seven goals in the game for the 10-7 victory. The win would put Lechuza in Wednesday’s semifinals against Coca-Cola.
The final match of the day had Piaget leading by two goals after the fifth chukker and then watch Lucchese come back in the final chukker to score three goals and take the game, 12-11. With Lucchese regular Sebastian Merlos injured, his brother Agustin “Tincho” Merlos fill in for him. Tincho’s 10 goals on the day confirmed his standing on the team and set the Lucchese up for a semifinal showdown with Audi on Wednesday afternoon. Results were not available at press time.
Friday’s action at the International Polo Club will include four games in the season’s first 26-goal tournament, the 2013 single-elimination C.V. Whitney Cup.
Friday’s C.V. Whitney Cup competition will feature games between Alegria and Piaget; Orchard Hill and Lechuza; Audi and Coca-Cola; and ERG facing the winner of Tuesday’s match between Zacara and Valiente.
The finals of the Ylvisaker Cup will take place on Sunday, Feb. 24, with the winners of Wednesday’s semifinals meeting on the stadium field at 3 p.m.
The high-goal polo action takes place every Sunday through April 21 at the International Polo Club. Ticket prices for Sunday polo range from $10 general admission to $120 box seating. Tickets for Sunday brunch at the Pavilion and its reception start at $55, upward to $330 for the Veuve Clicquot brunch package for two. Tickets can be purchased online at www.internationalpoloclub.com, or by calling (561) 204-5687. Find IPC on Facebook, follow on Twitter at @SundayPolo or visit www.ipcscoreboard.com for up-to-date scores, schedules and more.
Above: Lechuza Caracas defeated ERG 10-7 in their afternoon match. PHOTOGRAPHY BY LILA PHOTO
