ANINI-A pair of exciting polo matches determined the outcome of two major cup championships at the Anini Field on Sunday providing spectators with a high level of competition as Circle Z was awarded the Kaua`i Open title after playing Hanalei
ANINI-A pair of exciting polo matches determined the outcome of two major cup
championships at the Anini Field on Sunday providing spectators with a high
level of competition as Circle Z was awarded the Kaua`i Open title after
playing Hanalei Bay to a 9-all draw and JJ’s Broiler ran off with the Cavalry
Cup by defeating Pahio Vacation Ownership 10-2.
Ka`aina DeCoite took
control of the first matchup by charging the field to break the ice for JJ’s
Broiler in the fight for the Cavalry Cup.
Pahio’s Julian Chapa cleared the
ball out of the pack at the bowl in, and with the road wide open, appeared to
have a goal, but as traffic converged at the goal mouth, it was Michelle
Linstedt who moved in for the JJ’s score.
Derrick Naauao closed the first
chukker on a sweet play for Chapa who opened the books for Pahio.
Two quick
goals by Greg Smith and Ka`aina DeCoite left Pahio a little stunned in the
second chukker. Smith made another run down the field, but the ball went over
the end line where Naauao took the knock-in for Pahio, but Ka`aina moved in
with the “Tropical Depression” scoring for JJ’s on an automatic.
A Smith
goal kicked off the third chukker with a score for JJ’s.
Chapa took
control, but Kamalu Sheldon charged in to change the line of play with Kaeo
DeCoite capitalizing on the players bunching at the goalmouth to score for
JJ’s.
Celia Goodman was unhorsed following the bowl in when both teams were
moving downfield at a lively clip. A penalty was called at the time of the
fall with Goodman taking the shot for Pahio, but the attempt came up
empty.
Smith opened the final chukker with another score for JJ’s, but it
was Goodman who got the cheers when she scored for Pahio.
Smith smoked the
length of the field for the final JJ’s score to end the game 10-2 in favor of
JJ’s Broiler.
High tension ruled the atmosphere as Ron Bonaguidi’s Hanalei
Bay and Mike Zapara’s Circle Z took the field for the final match of the Kaua`i
Open round robin.
Both teams had been battling each other all season with
Circle Z taking the first game in the round robin by one goal.
Striking
within 30 seconds of the start of the first chukker, Mike Conant scored for
Circle Z.
Mike Sheehan responded by driving the ball towards the pylons,
but a whistle against Hanalei Bay stopped the clock with Conant taking the
penalty shot from 60 yards towards a defended goal.
Ronnie Tongg picked up
on Conant’s shot and scored for Circle Z.
Another penalty against Hanalei
Bay heralded the bowl in with Conant taking the shot that was blocked by Kimo
Huddleston.
The ball went over the end line and Hal Hargrave took the knock
in for Hanalei giving Huddleston the window for a long drive, but the attempt
went wide.
Conant knocked the ball in for Circle Z with Mike Sheehan
passing to Tongg who scored on the play.
Huddleston took a penalty shot for
Hanalei Bay, and torpedoed the ball down the field where Hargrave picked up the
action and executed a back shot for the score bringing fans to their feet
cheering the effort.
Huddleston’s fancy stick work defied the opposition
with another Hanalei Bay score to end the chukker.
Another Hanalei penalty
opened the second chukker with Conant taking the shot, but meeting with heavy
traffic. A long Conant drive was blocked by Hargrave with a tail shot, with
Conant recovering by driving a penalty shot over the end line wide of the
goal.
Spectators were thrilled with the measure of fancy stick work,
hooking, and riding as both teams jockeyed for control.
A penalty against
Circle Z gave Huddleston the chance to set up a play for Knox Weymouth to score
for Hanalei Bay with Huddleston capitalizing on another Circle Z
penalty.
Hard, fast play dominated the third chukker that had Huddleston
taking the ball out of the pack at the bowl in with a neck shot only to lose
it, recovering, and losing it to Sheehan who snookered it way.
Ronnie Tongg
made another run for the goal, but it was Conant who pushed the score
through.
Huddleston, despite a broken mallet at one point in the chukker,
controlled the play reaping four goals for Hanalei Bay.
A penalty against
Circle Z in the final chukker had Huddleston taking the penalty shot, but
unable to score. The knock in was taken by Conant, but Zapara saw the window
and drove the ball through the goal posts to score for Circle Z, knotting the
score at 8-all.
Tongg scored for Circle Z.
With time running down,
Hargrave pulled the opposition toward the corner, centered the ball, moved
around his opponent and sent a shot toward the goal which ricocheted off the
pylon over the goal line between the goal posts as the bell rang to end the
match tied at 9-9.
Circle Z was awarded the title at the winner of the 2000
Kaua`i Open Polo Tournament in accordance with the rules for the round
robin.
The Cavalry Cup was played in memory of Ken Anderson who was
instrumental in reviving polo on Kaua`i in 1979.
Polo continues next Sunday
at the Kaua`i Polo Club’s Anini Field with matches starting at 1:30 and 3:00
p.m. Matches are open to the public for an admission fee of $5 per
person.
Teams
JJ’s Broiler: Michelle Linstedt, Kaeo DeCoite, Ka`aina
DeCoite, Greg Smith. Pahio Vacation Ownership: Julian Chapa, Kamalu Sheldon,
Derrick Naauao, Celia Goodman. Umpire: Mike Longley.
Circle Z: Mike
Zapara, Ronnie Tongg, Mike Conant, Mike Sheehan. Hanalei Bay: Hal Hargrave,
Ryan Tongg, Kimo Huddleston, Knox Weymouth. Umpire: Herman Louis DeCoite.
