Rosalind Sabella Clark’s Sabella’s team took a first chukker lead against Terry Caplan’s Island Hardware, but fell behind in the second and third periods only to catch up and go ahead in the final minutes of the fourth chukker for
Rosalind Sabella Clark’s Sabella’s team took a first chukker lead against Terry Caplan’s Island Hardware, but fell behind in the second and third periods only to catch up and go ahead in the final minutes of the fourth chukker for a 6-5 victory in the Kauai Polo Club Corporate Sponsors Day tournament at Anini Field last Sunday.
Rosalind Clark tossed in the ball to begin the match, and immediately the intensity of play signaled there would be a fast paced match. Although Scott Sims cleared the ball, Ronnie Tongg stormed in and almost took the ball to goal.
Ron Bonaguidi saved the day and sent the ball into the corner. Ronnie, Ricardo Villegas, Krista Hawley, Sims and Rustan Tongg all had shots at the ball, but Rustan got control and took off down the field. Going too fast he went over the ball leaving it for Bonaguidi to center with a sweet forehand shot. Ronnie, Hawley, Sims, Villegas and Rustan all had shots at the ball, but Bonaguidi was there again to foil their efforts to advance the ball to goal. When Bonaguidi fired off a forehand shot he pulled a muscle in his forearm, play was suspended, and he was forced to retire from the match.
Ryan Tongg replaced Bonaguidi for the remainder of the game. It was late in the period that Ronnie outdueled the opposition, and with a brilliant shot from a difficult angle cracked the ball between the goal posts for the first score of the afternoon.
The second chukker belonged to Island Hardware. They took control and kept it, with Rustan, Sims, and Ryan all contributing goals. Rustan snookered the ball away from Ronnie and with a dramatic shot put Island Hardware on the scoreboard.
The spectators were treated to some excellent teamwork as Rustan backed the ball to Sims setting up the opportunity for him to score. After Sims had shot the ball over the sideline, the toss in was cleared by Ryan. Although he was challenged by Villegas, he stayed the course; and with Rustan keeping the pack at bay Ryan charged down the field to put the ball between the pylons.
Sabella’s made a valiant effort to pull ahead in the third period, but the Tongg brothers were just as determined to keep a wide margin in their favor.
Rustan backed a shot sending the ball into a corner. Ronnie took over and sent the ball to Hawley who was positioned in front of the goal line. Hawley only needed to tap the ball over the goal line. In the remainder of the chukker the two teams traded goals. Ryan drove a ball sailing between the pylons with a forehand drive. Ronnie fed the ball to Hawley who was playing her position well and struck the ball over the goal line.
In a skirmish for ball control in front of the goal mouth Sims left the ball unattended and Rustan tapped it over. Villegas picked up on a back shot from Ronnie and took off at a gallop for the goal line.
In a flurry of play, Villegas went over the ball, but a fast acting Ronnie scored from point blank range.
Midway through the final chukker Ronnie scored the goal to tie the match. This led to heightened efforts by both teams to salvage the tournament win.
Back and forth play with excellent teamwork, well coordinated plays, stunning individual stick work and horsemanship, hard charging and bumping were on display.
