Pat and Andrea Quinn’s Icing on the Cake team fell to CJ’s Steak and Seafood team in the Firecracker Tournament Match at the Kaua‘i Polo Club’s Anini Polo Field last Sunday by a 7-5 score. CJ’s roared off to a
Pat and Andrea Quinn’s Icing on the Cake team fell to CJ’s Steak and Seafood team in the Firecracker Tournament Match at the Kaua‘i Polo Club’s Anini Polo Field last Sunday by a 7-5 score. CJ’s roared off to a 6-1 margin by half time, but had to hang on as Icing came back with a 4-1 edge in the second half.
Andrea Quinn, with an assist by her young son Theo, tossed in the first ball to launch the match. Ryan Tongg, playing his first match in five years, set the pace with his blazing dash to goal within the first two minutes of play to put CJ’s on the scoreboard. Krista Hawley cleared the ball from the toss in but lost it to Rustan Tongg.
Rustan was in the thick of ball exchanges with Ricardo Villegas and his father, Ronnie Tongg, but came away with the ball. Coordinating play nicely with Ryan, he moved the ball toward the goal and smartly hit the ball between the pylons.
The play was now fast and intense as Villegas seemed to show up everywhere with Ronnie right with him and the ball was hit over the end line. Villegas took the knock in and in resulting play a safety (penalty 6) was called against CJ’s. Ronnie took the penalty shot from midfield with a powerful forehand shot that almost crossed the goal line only to be stopped by Villegas. Shortly before the period ended, the Tongg brothers put together a series of shots with Ryan getting out ahead of the pack, and backed up by Rustan, smoking down the field with fans cheering to score.
Pam Tongg, Ronnie’s wife, tossed in the ball to start the second chukker. Although CJ’s took control initially, Ron Bonaguidi stole the ball from the Tongg brothers.
Ronnie was right there to pick up, and with cool finesse sent the ball over the goal line to tack up the first score for Icing. A fierce struggle ensued with offensive and defensive maneuvers by each side keeping spectators engrossed. Hard charging, riding off, hooking, and expert horsemanship were on display. Out of this back and forth play the Tongg brothers emerged again. First Rustan got going at a gallop, and with Ryan protecting him, raced down the length of the field finally sending a pop fly sailing over the goal posts. The toss in was cleared by Hawley with a shot to Ronnie which was backed by Ryan. When everyone went over the ball, Rustan smoothly took control and amid pounding hooves and smashing sticks scored again.
Polo continues at Anini Polo Field next Sunday at 3 p.m.
