The USPA Carlton and Keleen Beal Cup 12 Goal final turned out to be a game of split momentum for five chukkers and then then a battle to the finish the sixth.
From the start, Bensoleimani.com (Ben Soleimani, Santiago Von Wernich 5, Tomy Alberdi 4, Remy Du Celliee Muller 3) took control over Chateau d’Escalns (Ron Mathison, Marcos Llambias 4, Francisco Rodriguez-Mera 4, Patrick Uretz 4 – sub for inj Marcello Rodriguez-Abbiati 4) with immediate and sustained pressure. The result was two goals from Alberdi – one from the field and a penalty three conversion to lead after one at 2 – 0.
The early second saw the momentum stay with the designers as Du Celiee Muller and Von Wernich each scored singles to lead by four. However, the late second saw a switch in momentum as Chateau d’Esclans recovered to find pressure of their own that was rewarded with a spot penalty two opportunity that was easily converted by Rodriguez-Mera and the second was over with Soleimani.com up by three at 4 – 1.
The switch in strength to favor the vintners continued into the third frame as Rodriguez-Mera counted two goals – another free hit from 10 yards and a field goal to narrow the deficit to just a goal at 4 – 3 going into the Sophia Halftime Divot Stomp.
The fourth period featured continued momentum for Chateau d’Esclans as Rodriguez-Mera counted a pair of open goal strikes and a spectacular neck shot from 65 yards and well to the right – the announcer’s shot of the day – to now lead for the first time in the game. At this point, it appeared that the vintners were on their way. Not quite as Bensoleimani.com was able to stop the six goal run as Alberdi scored on a massive penalty four effort. Notwithstanding, Chateau d’Esclans led after the frame by a count of 6 – 5. This was the vintners first lead at the end of a chukker.
With the penalty strike in the fourth, the momentum was now firmly back in the camp of Bensoleimani.com in the penultimate stanza as Alberti made three more goals – two open goal awards and one from the field. Chateau d’Esclans were able to stop the four goal run with Rodriguez-Mera launching a 60 yard penalty conversion of his own. However, the designers led again at 8 – 7 going to the final.
With scoring runs of four, six, and four again, momentum had indeed been a factor for both teams coming into the sixth period. The final frame, however, saw back and fourth scoring - all field goals - as Alberdi counted his seventh of the game to lead by two. Rodriguez-Mera brought Chateau d’Esclans back to within one but Von Wernich gave the Soleimani group another lead of two. Uretz then scored, to once again bring the winery to within one. But that would be it for the vintners and Alberdi counted another to give Bensoleimani.com the 2019 Beal Cup by a final count of 11 – 9.
With his strong play and superb foul shooting abilities, Alberdi was chosen as the MVP and Felina, played by Rodriguez-Mera in the sixth wore the Best Playing Pony cooler back to the barn.
Recent Polo Hall of Fame inductee Karlene Beal Garber, along with her husband Dick, was on hand to present the awards.
Tony Gregg
