POLO: VALIENTE WINS U.S. OPEN TO COMPLETE POLO’S TRIPLE CROWN

Balladeer’s Blog continues its coverage of the world’s OLDEST team sport. FOR MY PRIMER ON POLO CLICK HERE  

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: VALIENTE VS ORCHARD HILL – Valiente – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Valiants – came into this 114th U.S. Open having already won the first two titles in this year’s American Triple Crown. History was on the line as Valiente mounted up to face the Defending Open Champions from 2016, Orchard Hill – Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: The Clubmen.

FIRST CHUKKER – On the opening Toss-In of the Match Orchard Hill’s Facundo Pieres received a pass from Polito Pieres and swatted in a Goal. After that the Clubmen and Valiente would alternate scoring on Penalty Shots, ending the Chukker with things knotted up at 2 Goals apiece.

SECOND CHUKKER – With the intensity doubling this time around the two teams matched each other blow for blow and knocking in Goal for Goal. The score now stood at 4-4.

THIRD CHUKKER – Orchard Hill’s offense exploded in this Chukker, putting no less than FIVE Goals between the Uprights. For their part the Valiants managed just 2 Goals in return. The Clubmen headed into Halftime holding a 9-6 lead.

FOURTH CHUKKER – Valiente’s foursome rode out onto the Polo Grounds determined to make their move. Adolfo Cambiaso thwacked in 2 Goals in a row to bring the Valiants to within 1. However, from there Orchard Hill scored 2 answering Goals with Valiente adding another of their own. The count was now 11-9 in favor of the Clubmen.   

FIFTH CHUKKER – The Valiants shut out Orchard Hill in this Chukker. While clamping down defensively Valiente also managed a pair of Goals to knot things up at 11-11 going into the final Chukker.

SIXTH CHUKKER – It was the proverbial “deja vu all over again” for the defending champs. As in their opening day Match against the Valiants the Clubmen let a lead slip away into a tie and ultimately an Overtime loss. The two teams exchanged 1 Goal apiece, and Regulation ended in a 12-12 tie to force a Golden Goal situation.

OVERTIME – This Seventh Chukker was scoreless all the way down to just over 3 minutes to play. At that point Valiente’s Diego Cavanagh moved the ball down into Orchard Hill territory and swatted in a Goal to win the Match 13-12.

Diego Cavanagh led the victors with 8 of their 13 Goals.

CONGRATULATIONS TO VALIENTE ON WINNING THE U.S. OPEN AND TAKING THE AMERICAN TRIPLE CROWN!