Orchard Hill, Valiente and Flexjet Secure Wins
Action in the US Open started last week with the first round of games underway. All six teams entered in the tournament have one or more of the world’s top players, promising some great polo action stateside.
Unusually, it was a somewhat shaky start for tournament favourites Valiente as they clawed a narrow comeback overtime win against Orchard Hill, 12-11. In similarly close matches it was a single goal win for Flexjet over Audi 10-9, and another strong performance from Coca Cola as they held on to defeat Travieso 11-9.
However on Sunday 9 April the results were more secure with Valiente storming to a 17-12 win over Coca Cola after an impressive five goal assault during the fifth chukka. If this form continues, the Adolfo Cambiaso led Valiente powerhouse will be on track to secure the US Triple Crown as the team have already notched up victories in the C.V. Whitney and The USPA Gold Cup.
In another match played yesterday, Orchard Hill cruised past Audi 12-8, the Orchard Hill victory being in no small way attributable to Facundo Pieres who was 100 percent accurate from the penalty line, converting all four attempts; he also added five field goals to his tally.
Flexjet outplayed Travieso 11-9 in a close match which saw all eight players on the field finding the scoresheet, with Mariano Gonzalez and Gonzalito Pieres leading their respective teams with five goals each.
The action stateside resumes tomorrow, Wednesday 12 April with another triple-header: Flexjet vs Valiente, Coca Cola vs Audi and Orchard Hill vs Travieso.
All games in the 2017 US Open are being live streamed on the USPA Polo Network. Click here to follow the action.
US Open Teams:
Coca Cola (26): Gillian Johnston (2), Julian de Lussaretta (7), Julio Arellano (8) & Miguel Novillo Astrada (9)
Flexjet (26): Melissa Ganzi (0), Rodrigo Andrade (9), Gonzalito Pieres (9) & Nicolas Pieres (8)
Audi (26): Marc Ganzi (2), Nic Roldan (8), Magoo Laprida (8) & Alejandro Novillo Astrada (8)
Valiente (26): Bob Jornayvaz (2), Matias Torres Zavaleta (6), Diego Cavanagh (8) & Adolfo Cambiaso (10)
Orchard Hill (26): Polito Pieres (10), Juan Chavanne (5), Facundo Pieres (10) & Steve Van Andel (1)
Travieso (26): Tony Calle (1), Sebastian Merlos (9), Mariano Gonzales (7), & Alfredo Capella (9)
Photograph: Facundo Pieres in action for Orchard Hill, the 10 goaler scored five field goals and four penalties to secure his team’s win. By © David Lominska/IPC