Savage Pearls overpowered Coldwell Banker/Bali Hai Realty in a four chukker polo match at Anini Field last Sunday by a resounding 7-1 score. Inger Pa, the “Velvet Voice of Kaua‘i Polo,” was unable to be present. The announcing duties were
Savage Pearls overpowered Coldwell Banker/Bali Hai Realty in a four chukker polo match at Anini Field last Sunday by a resounding 7-1 score.
Inger Pa, the “Velvet Voice of Kaua‘i Polo,” was unable to be present. The announcing duties were handled admirably by Kim Kelly, a very fine polo player who played here a few seasons back, and who happened to be vacationing on Kaua‘i.
Savage Pearls got the match off to a splendid start with a beautiful display of team work. Scott Sims cleared Island Hardware sponsor Terry Caplan’s toss in, and moved the ball to Rustan Tongg, who immediately propelled it to Max Secunda. Secunda gave it two taps permitting Sims, on his trusty little Arabian, to get out in front, then passed him the ball. Sims took the ball and with an offside forehand shot cleanly split the pylons for the first score of the afternoon. Although John Elwin cleared the ensuing toss in, the Savage Pearls team wasted no time in giving a repeat performance. This time it was Secunda who drove the ball over the goal line. The die for the afternoon was cast.
Savage Pearls dominated the second period. Their stout defense was impenetrable. Ronnie Tongg and Secunda put on some superb displays of stick work, and Peter Cameron and Sims engaged in some hard charging and riding off, but it wasn‚t enough to slow Savage Pearls. Sims and Secunda thrilled the fans as they worked together. They got in front of the pack with Sims firing off a pop fly to Secunda who then proceeded to smack the ball between the goal posts. Ronnie and Rustan Tongg, father and son on opposing teams, exhibited some incredible stick work and horsemanship while vying for the ball in tight circles. Just before the horn Rustan took ball control from his Dad and set up a perfect opportunity for Secunda to squeak the ball over the goal line.
Secunda, who was playing his final match of the season here, was in fine form. Hardly had the ball touched the ground from the third chukker toss in when Secunda swept it through a sea of mallets and legs to notch another goal. The game was very fluid during much of the period. It wasn’t until very late in the chukker with both teams swarming about the goal mouth that Elwin, with a valiant effort, extricated the ball and tapped it over the goal line to put Bali Hai in the scoring column.
In the final chukker Rustan Tongg really cut loose. He was all over the field, and it was obvious to all he was having a wonderful time. When Secunda failed to score on a coast-to-coast run, it was Rustan who smoothly moved in and rocketed the ball over the goal line. Rustan again brought the spectators to their feet when he expertly picked off an opponent‚s shot and blasted the ball between the pylons. Sims made the final score of the afternoon. When his trusty little Arabian gets the signal to go into fast forward he shoots ahead, and did just that when Sims got the ball. He had the field to himself, and smoothly moved the ball along and over the goal line.
When the final horn sounded it was Savage Pearls 7, Coldwell Banker/Bali Hai Realty 1.
Lori Marston, wife of Tahiti Nui sponsor Bill Marston, presented beautiful orchid leis to the winning team. Many fans said their “Alohas” to the Secunda family.
Teams: Savage Pearls: Scott Sims, Rustan Tongg, Max Secunda. Coldwell Banker/Bali Hai Realty: John Elwin, Peter Cameron, Ronnie Tongg.
