Circle Z. Las Vegas win at polo

ANINI—Mike Zapara’s Circle Z team galloped away with a 6-4 over Greg Smith’s

Chiropractic team in Sunday’s championship match while in the earlier contest

Las Vegas took a 6-4 win over Bubba Burgers.

Smith Chiropractic entered the

arena with a 1 handicap, having met each other on the field on numerous

occasions during the season resulting in a highly charged atmosphere for

Sunday’s final encounter.

Hal Hargrave took a pair of penalty shots for

Smith’s, but to no avail, and the father/son combo of Herman Louis and Ka`aina

DeCoite had fans roaring their approval before Kim Kelly of Circle Z took

control of the ball, charged downfield, faltered, regained control before

driving it over the goal line for a score shortly before the end of the first

chukker.

High speed determined riding and sharp hooking characterized the

second chukker play as Hargrave took a knock in from the end line for a Smith

score.

Ka`aina DeCoite added to the excitement by gaining control of the

ball, and upon moving downfield, was forced to change the line of play before

breaking the goal line for another Smith goal.

A safety against Circle Z

had Hargrave taking the penalty shot and capitalizing for another Smith

score.

Kelly kicked off the third chukker for Circle Z with a score,

answering a scoreless second period.

Hargrave took the knock in on the ball

out, and on passing to Herman Louis who fired a power shot, Mike Conant’s

mallet broke as the defender headed for the sidelines while play continued

until a tack problem paused the action.

Ronnie Tongg took center stage on

play resumption with a long neck shot for a Circle Z goal that was added to as

Zapara came up with another Circle Z goal following the throw in.

Tongg

dominated the final chukker with a pair of Circle Z scores, the first coming on

a far reach out of his saddle, and the second coming on a surprise

maneuver.

Earlier in the day, play was 3 on 3 with Hargrave and Conant

starting the first chukker with a display of fancy stick work as they grappled

for ball possession.

Peter Cameron, the voice of Kaua`i Polo, moved in for

Bubba Burgers to take the ball through traffic bunched at the goalmout, scoring

for Bubba’s.

Despite shot attempts by John Elwin, Celia Goodman, and

Cameron, Conant finally brought the fans to their feet with a near side back

shot for another Bubba’s score.

Kamalu Sheldon headed for the goal on the

bowl in, but Bubba’s struck again as Elwin hooked Sheldon with Cameron

capitalizing on the play for Bubba’s.

Elwin took the bowl in for an ECC Las

Vegas goal.

Hargrave, dominating play in the period, opened the second

chukker with a goal for ECC as Michelle Lindstedt replaced Conant on the

field.

Goodman headed for a sure goal only to have Hargrave snooker the

ball away for another ECC score that was quickly followed by another ECC goal

from Elwin.

Hargrave swept in again to change the line of play as Cameron

attempted three unsuccessful shot attempts, with Hargrave and Sheldon charging

down the field with Hargrave coming off the ball for another ECC score on a

neck shot.

Conant returned to the field in the third chukker, and Hargrave

was relieved by Ka`aina DeCoite who hit the field like a fireball and scored

the only goal of the chukker.

A bowl in from the sidelines started the

final chukker as Sheldon took control of the ball from Ka`aina DeCoite, and

after being set up by Cameron, Sheldon closed the door with a shot between the

pylons for a Bubba’s score.

A single match at 3 p.m. is scheduled for

Sunday, July 2 at the Anini Field. Admission is $5 per person.

Teams:

Circle Z: Mike Zapara, Ronnie Tongg, Mike Conant, Kim Kelly. Smith

Chiropractic: Greg Smith, Herman Louis DeCoite, Ka`aina DeCoite, Hal Hargrave.

Umpires: Kamalu Sheldon, John Elwin.

ECC Las Vegas: John Elwin, Hal

Hargrave, Celia Goodman, Ka`aina DeCoite. Bubba Burgers: Kamalu Sheldon, Peter

Cameron, Mike Conant, Michelle Lindstedt. Umpire: Greg Smith.