ANINI — Carlos Elzaurdia scored 4 goals and his pony scored 1 as Sabella’s/Gypsy squeezed out a 5-4 victory over Coldwell Banker/Bali Hai Realty in the last 30 seconds of their fast paced four chukker match contesting the Bali Hai
ANINI — Carlos Elzaurdia scored 4 goals and his pony scored 1 as Sabella’s/Gypsy squeezed out a 5-4 victory over Coldwell Banker/Bali Hai Realty in the last 30 seconds of their fast paced four chukker match contesting the Bali Hai Challenge Trophy at Anini Polo Field last Sunday.
Bali Hai, led by Ronnie Tongg and Ron Bonaguidi, put up a stirring battle but were not able to turn back the assault from Suzanne Figi’s San Diego contingent featuring 5-goal player Graham Bray.
It was San Diego’s Bray with his generalship and field savvy who set up the plays and feeds to Elzaurdia placing him in scoring positions.
And his defensive maneuvers robbed Bali Hai of several scoring opportunities.
Bali Hai entered the fray with a handicap of 1 goal.
Sean Ahearn from Coldwell Banker/Bali Hai Realty got things under way with the first toss in of the afternoon. Tongg cleared and expertly moved the ball to Sims.
Bray went on the attack and smoothly set up a golden opportunity for Elzaurdia to put Sabella’s/Gypsy on the score board. Not to be outdone a determined Sims countered with a goal for Bali Hai.
The second chukker opened up some nice horse races up and down the field, usually resulting from Bray‚s meteoric power shots rocketing the ball far down field.
When both teams swarmed over the ball, it was Bonaguidi who deftly extricated the ball and moved through the opposition to score for Bali Hai.
Within seconds Bray shot a pass to Elzaurdia who amazed everyone with brilliant stick work and horsemanship as he made a spectacular goal for Sabella’s/Gypsy.
The third period was a show stopper. Sabella’s/Gypsy offense kept Bali Hai away from the scoreboard.
Shortly after the toss in Elzaurdia’s pony kicked the ball across the goal line. Silence hit the field when John Elwin and his horse went down. Fast action by teammates averted a serious accident, and within minutes both Elwin and his horse were back in action.
Before the horn sounded Elzaurdia had scored again.
In the final chukker both teams pulled out all the stops as they battled to win this nose to nose match.
Tongg, whose stick work and horsemanship is pure delight, took a penalty 5 shot.
With two perfectly placed short shots to maneuver the ball through the pack and into position he unleashed a near side back shot to score from a difficult angle.
With the score now tied, and 30 seconds remaining, it was Elzaurdia who brought the spectators to their feet cheering as he dramatically shot the ball between the pylons to make the final score Sabella’s/Gypsy 5, Coldwell Banker/Bali Hai Realty 4.
Both teams were rewarded with beautiful leis from Coldwell Banker/Bali Hai Realty, and the names of the players on the winning team will be engraved on a brass plaque and added to the splendid Bali Hai Challenge Perpetual Trophy.
Teams: Coldwell Banker/Bali Hai Realty: Scott Sims, Ron Bonaguidi, Ronnie Tongg, John Elwin. Sabella’s/Gypsy: Peter Cameron, Carlos Elzaurdia, Graham Bray, Suzanne Figi. Umpires: Kamalu Sheldon, Stuart Mackenzie.
Polo continues at Anini Field next Sunday at 3:00 p.m.
The public are welcome. Adults $10. per person; 12-18, $5. per person.
Club matches are played on Fridays at 4:00 p.m.
