It was deja vu last Sunday afternoon at the Kauai Polo Club when Coldwell Banker/Bali Hai Realty took on Savage Pearls in a four chukker match. Ten minutes before the start a torrential shower moved over Anini Polo Field, and
It was deja vu last Sunday afternoon at the Kauai Polo Club when Coldwell Banker/Bali Hai Realty took on Savage Pearls in a four chukker match. Ten minutes before the start a torrential shower moved over Anini Polo Field, and each of the chukkers was played partially in rain. This created playing conditions mandating caution, but players and horses responded with a well-played game. Savage Pearls entered the match with a one goal handicap.
After the initial toss in Scott Sims, John Elwin, and Max Secunda for Savage Pearls attempted to move the ball through the traffic without success. When it appeared that Secunda was about to slam the ball over the goal line, Ronnie Tongg snaked in, captured the ball, and went on to score for Bali Hai. A penalty was called against Bali Hai, and Secunda successfully converted to score on a forty yard free hit to an undefended goal. Tongg and Secunda engaged in some serious hooking in close quarters. Ron Bonaguidi took advantage of their duel; and with splendid stick work extricated the ball and sent it between the pylons to chalk one up for Bali Hai.
Early in the second period Bonaguidi was maneuvering for a shot on goal when Secunda, from out of nowhere, stole the ball and thrilled the spectators with a coast-to-coast run to carry the ball between the goal posts for a Savage Pearls score. Within a heart beat of the toss in Bonaguidi got the ball, and winding through heavy traffic scored. Before the chukker ended Tongg and Secunda put on a great performance of cat-and-mouse play, again giving Bonaguidi an opportunity to steal the ball away and tally a goal for Bali Hai.
In the third period Secunda took a knock in from the end line with a powerful offside forehand shot that went half the length of the field. But Tongg was there, and set up a sweet chance for Krista Hawley to tap the ball over the goal line. Just before the chukker ended there was a flurry of activity in front of the goal mouth. From the melee Cameron got the ball and struck to over the goal line just before the horn sounded.
On two different occasions in the final chukker safeties were called against Savage Pearls. In the first instance, Tongg took the free hit from 60 yards. With a series of short shots he expertly maneuvered through the defense to rack up a spectacular score. In the second instance, Tongg took the ball to the goal line where a swarm of players converged on the ball, but Bonaguidi cleverly picked up and tapped the ball over the goal line. The final score of the afternoon was a thriller. Tongg stole the ball from Secunda, and with brilliant stick work insinuated his way through heavy traffic to drive the ball between the pylons. When the final horn sounded it was Coldwell Banker/Bali Hai Realty 8, Savage Pearls 4.
Teams: Coldwell Banker/Bali Hai Realty: Krista Hawley, Ron Bonaguidi, Ronnie Tongg. Savage Pearls: Scott Sims, John Elwin, Max Secunda, Peter Cameron. Umpire: Kamalu Sheldon.
