HPC Newsletter: 9.22.24

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

USPA H. BEN TAUB MEMORIAL CUP

The Final of the USPA H. Ben Taub Memorial presented by McCathern Law took over Sunday polo and it was quite a game to watch! The 8 goal team, CW Petroleum/Propaganda challenged the 9 goal team 3L Energy Solutions/Old Pueblo in a fast paced final for the crowd to enjoy.

3L Energy Solutions/Old Pueblo’s Nick Dunbar (white jersey) on Robot, keeps the ball out of reach of CW Petroleum/Propaganda’s Steve Krueger on Jolie

CW Petroleum/Propaganda’s Chris Williams looked confident in the first chukker scoring back to back goals to start the game. Finding themselves trailing 0 to 2.5, 3L Energy Solutions/Old Pueblo’s Bryan Middleton and Jeff Hall got their team back in the game scoring three goals to regain the lead 3 to 2.5 at the end of the chukker. Williams responded with another goal to start the second chukker, but Middleton and Hall wouldn’t give up the lead as they scored back to back goals ending the chukker leading 5 to 3.5. Williams’ teammates decided to join him on the scoreboard as Steve Krueger and Nick Cifuni found their first goals of the day, as Williams scored his fourth goal of the game. 3L Energy Solutions/Old Pueblo couldn’t sneak past the opposition’s defense and CW Petroleum /Propaganda ended the first half leading 6.5 to 5.

CW Petroleum/Propaganda’s Chris Williams drives the ball down Farish Field on Emme Lou

As the players took their halftime break, spectators were invited onto Farish Field to partake in the divot stomping tradition! It was a beautiful Fall Houston afternoon, as the crowd enjoyed complimentary champagne presented by American National and they had a chance to catch a first glimpse of the new Mossy Ineos Grenadier along with the Shoppa John Deere tractor. As halftime came to an end, spectators returned to their seats and the teams rode onto the field to play their remaining two chukkers.
CW Petroleum/Propaganda’s Steve Krueger was the sole scorer between the teams in the fourth chukker, giving his team a 7.5 to 5 lead going into the fifth and final chukker. 3L Energy Solutions/Old Pueblo attempted a surge back in the game, but their shots on goal never landed as CW Petroleum/Propaganda’s defense played hard throughout the chukker. Cifuni added back to back goals to CW Petroleum/Propaganda’s lead to earn his team the win of the 2024 USPA H. Ben Taub Memorial with a score of 9.5 to 5.

Winning team: CW Petroleum/ Propaganda
Chris Williams, Nick Cifuni, Steve Krueger, Paul Hobby
pictured with Hobbs, presented by Rodney Drinnon with McCathern Law and Henry Wessel & Kitch Taub

MVP: Chris Williams,
presented by Rodney Drinnon with McCathern Law and Henry Wessel & Kitch TaubBPP: Chingaling, owned and played by Nick Cifuni,
pictured with groom Herbert Melgar, presented by the Sydenham Clinic and associates