NEWS

Story courtesy of International Polo Club Palm Beach

Returning to the C.V. Whitney Cup® and the International Polo Club Palm Beach (Wellington, Florida) for the first time since 2018, Adolfo Cambiaso, along with son Poroto, led Scone (David Paradice, Poroto Cambiaso, Mariano ‘Peke’ Gonzalez*, Adolfo Cambiaso) to a strong 12-5 victory over Santa Clara (Will Johnston, Felipe Vercellino, Miguel Novillo Astrada, Luis Escobar) in the feature game of the week on the U.S. Polo Assn Field 1. Earlier in the day, Park Place (Jack Whitman*, Juan Britos, Hilario Ulloa, Matt Coppola*, Andrey Borodin, Tomas Garcia del Rio) bounced back from an overtime loss to outscore Aspen/Dutta Corp (Timmy Dutta*, Matias Torres Zavaleta, Gringo Colombres, Stewart Armstrong) 9-3.

Park Place’s defense was the story in the opening game of the day as they limited Aspen/Dutta Corp to just three goals in their GAUNTLET OF POLO® debut. Park Place impressed with a disciplined team performance that conceded zero penalty attempts and held Aspen/Dutta Corp to just one for nine shooting over the first four chukkers, leaving little doubt in the six-goal victory. After scoring eight goals in his first game, Ulloa displayed an increased focus on distributing the ball, finishing with three assists as all four Park Place players found the scoreboard.

Aspen/Dutta Corp showed some energy in the opening chukker with opportunities around goal but were unable to convert any of their three attempts, allowing Park Place to take the early lead on a field goal from Britos. The defensive-minded game carried into the second chukker with goals hard to come by for both teams. Armstrong came forward from the back of the game to put Aspen/Dutta Corp on the scoreboard, but Park Place’s Whitman responded with his first goal. In the lowest scoring half of the season, Park Place’s Britos converted a Penalty 3 in the only goal of the third chukker to finish the half holding the narrow 3-1 lead.

The game changed in a decisive fourth chukker as Ulloa began to display his 10-goal skills for Park Place. Scoring two goals while assisting on a goal from Britos, Ulloa led a 3-0 chukker in favor of Park Place while Coppola continued to be effective defensively in preventing Aspen/Dutta Corp from getting any open runs to goal. Held without a goal for the third time in four chukkers, Aspen/Dutta Corp faced a 6-1 deficit with two chukkers remaining. Ulloa’s third goal of the game to open the fifth chukker completed a run of six consecutive goals for Park Place. A Penalty 1 awarded to Colombres provided a brief reprieve for Aspen/Dutta Corp, but they were unable to match the pace of Park Place, who extended their lead over the final chukker to complete the 9-3 victory.

The much-anticipated debut of Scone lived up to the hype with Poroto Cambiaso leading all players with five goals on accurate four for six shooting. With the proficient attack led by Poroto and Gonzalez, Adolfo Cambiaso effectively managed the game from behind, maintaining possession and holding Santa Clara to just two for 10 shooting and zero field goals in the second half. Santa Clara struggled to find the success they had in their opening game with the duo of Astrada and Escobar limited to just one combined goal as Santa Clara trailed throughout the game in the 12-5 defeat.

Scone wasted little time in the first chukker, dominating possession and keeping Santa Clara in their own half to build a 3-0 lead. Poroto Cambiaso scored two goals while Adolfo added the third, leaving Santa Clara unable to score after the first seven minutes of play. Displaying an impressive attacking presence, Poroto Cambiaso scored his third goal to open the second chukker and extend Scone’s lead to four. Finding their footing, Santa Clara fought back in the remainder of the chukker, producing three goals on solid teamwork resulting in one goal each from Vercellino, Astrada and Johnston. Refocusing defensively, Scone kept Santa Clara off the scoreboard to finish the first half and added goals from Gonzalez and Adolfo Cambiaso to hold a commanding 7-3 advantage.

The momentum of the second half lied in the fourth chukker as Santa Clara needed to close the gap, but inaccurate shooting kept them from doing so. The young duo of Poroto Cambiaso and Gonzalez continued to ignite Scone offensively as they added one goal and an assist each, leaving Santa Clara facing a difficult task as they trailed by six with two chukkers remaining. Despite three missed penalty attempts in the final two chukkers, Scone effectively managed their lead behind their exceptional defense, preventing Santa Clara from scoring any field goals throughout the second half and cruising to the 12-5 victory.

Poroto Cambiaso was named Most Valuable Player for his five-goal performance. Adolfo Cambiaso’s GT Frapera received Best Playing Pony honors.

The C.V. Whitney Cup® continues on Wednesday, February 24, with Cessna taking on Scone at 11:00am ET and Pilot challenging Tonkawa at 3:00pm ET. All games of the 2021 GAUNTLET OF POLO® will be livestreamed exclusively on Global Polo TV.

*Jack Whitman, Peke Gonzalez and Timmy Dutta are Active Team USPA Members. Matt Coppola is a Graduating Team USPA Member. Team USPA is a USPA program designed to enhance and grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities leading to a pool of higher rated amateur and pro players and the resultant giveback to the sport of polo.