HPC Newsletter: 5.21.23

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

J. TALASEK HOMES CUP

The 12 Goal league players were chopping at the bit to play polo and the Sunday afternoon J. Talasek Homes Cup Final hosted by the Houston Polo Club did not disappoint!

BPC’s Toro Ruiz (orange helmet) dribbles the ball on Farish Field on his best playing pony, Tarma

Handicapped at 13 goals, the Brookshire Polo Club team faced a 12 Goal Eureka team, which allowed Eureka to start with one goal on the scoreboard due to the team handicap difference.
Brookshire Polo wasted no time, as team captain Toro Ruiz converted back to back penalty shots to claim a one goal lead after the first chukker. During the second chukker, Brookshire Polo’s Sterling Giannico extended his team’s lead with an impressive goal out of the air. Eureka’s Australian teammate Jack Kiely eventually broke the ice for his team to end the chukker trailing 2 to 3. At the start of the third chukker, Brookshire Polo’s Duilio Diaz found his first goal of the game, but Eureka’s Kiely scored two unanswered goals to end the chukker with the teams tied at 4 goals a piece.

Eureka’s Rene Campos lines up to hit a back shot on Billetera

As the umpires whistled to end the first half, HPC’s announcer, Marty Salinas, opened up the halftime festivities and spectators were allowed to enter the field, stomp divots, and enjoy complimentary champagne! The field was looking back to pristine condition thanks to the crowd’s hard work, and soon after it was time to begin the second half of the J. Talasek Homes Cup Final.
Eureka’s Mason Wroe was first to break the tie at the beginning of the fourth chukker, however Brookshire Polo’s Ruiz and Diaz answered with goals of their own to reclaim their one goal lead. Wroe responded once again to tie up the game 6 to 6 as the chukker ended. The fabulous fifth chukker had the crowd on the edge of their seats, as Brookshire Polo took the lead once again thanks to another goal from their 7 goal player Ruiz. Eureka’s Kiely was awarded two penalty 3s, one of which was blocked by Brookshire’s Giannico in an impressive showing of hand-eye coordination, the second, Kiely barely snuck past Giannico to tie the score up 7 to 7 going into the last chukker.

Eureka’s Jorge Cernadas (black jersey) reaches to make a hook on BPC’s Toro Ruiz

To start the sixth chukker, Kiely traded penalty shot goals with Ruiz to bring the teams to 8 to 8 mid chukker. Kiely, proving to be dependable at the penalty line, converted his fourth penalty shot to give Eureka a one lead with two minutes remaining. Eureka’s defensive game was put to the test as Brookshire Polo tried to put the match into overtime, but Eureka’s Wroe was able to edge in the last goal of the game to earn the win for Eureka with the final score of 10 to 8.