Longfield/Equine Law captures USPA
Eastern Challenge

By Alex Webbe

Jeff Hall led a balanced Longfield/Equine Law (Hannah Buchan, Jason Crowder, Jeff
Hall and Avery Chapman) attack as they rode off with a 14-10 win over Pony Express
(Bob Daniels, Melissa Ganzi, Tomas Goti and Juan Bollini) in the finals of the 2012
USPA Eastern Challenge at the Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington Sunday
afternoon.

Pony Express received two goals by handicap from the 14-goal Longfield/Equine Law
foursome and added a single goal from Tomas Goti in the opening chukker. Longfield/
Equine Law registered three first chukker goals, with Hall converting a penalty shot for a
goal and Jason Crowder and Avery Chapman adding single goals from the field for a 3-
3 tie.

Two more goals from Goti in the second period were answered by a penalty goal from
Hall. Pony Express held a one goal lead, 5-4 after two complete chukkers of play.

Goti’s fourth goal of the game had Pony Express on top of a 6-4 lead in the third when
Crowder broke through the defense for a goal. Juan Bollini scored the final goal of the
first half to give Pony Express a 7-5 advantage.

A renewed Longfield/Equine Law team took the field in the fourth chukker, picking up a
pair of goals from Hall (one from the field and one on a penalty shot) and a single goal
from Crowder to deadlock it at 8-8. Pony Express added a goal on a penalty conversion
from Bollini.

Four consecutive goals from Longfield/Equine Law in the fifth period gave then a 12-
8 lead over Pony Express. Hall scored three times from and Hannah Buchan scored
once. A tally by Melissa Ganzi ended the chukker with Longfield/Equine Law ahead,
12-9.

Goti scored on a penalty shot, cutting the lead to two goals, 12-10, but Longfield/Equine
Law responded with single goals from Buchan and Chapman for the 14-10 victory.

Hall led all scoring with seven goals (three on penalty shots). Crowder scored three
times and Buchan and Chapman were credited with two goals apiece.

Goti spearheaded the Pony Express attack with five scores (one on a penalty shot).
Bollini scored twice (one by penalty), and Melissa Ganzi added a goal in the loss. Pony

Express also received two goals by handicap.

Chapman was named MVP while Chica Bruta, a 10-year-old brown Argentine mare
received Best Playing Pony Honors. Chica Bruta is owned by Halo Polo and was
played by Bollini in the third chukker.

CINQUE TERRE WINS ROUND-ROBIN

In earlier competition, Cinque Terre (Alessandro Bazzoni, Lucas Lalor, Kris Kampsen
and Marc Ganzi) bested Newport (Gene Goldstein, Timmy Sharma, Nacho Badiola and
Joey Casey) and Ruby Q (Brian Street, Joaquin Panelo, J. J. Celis and Diego Cossio)
to capture the consolation round of the Eastern Challenge.

With all three teams winding up with identical 1-1 records, the winner was decided on
the strength of net goals scored, with Cinque Terre the clear winner.

Cinque Terre got the ball rolling with an opening 6-1 win over Newport/Tuff Rider with
Marc Ganzi scoring four of the team’s six goals (two on penalty shots). Alessandro
Bazzoni added two goals including a 60-yard neck shot in the third chukker.

Newport held the field for the ensuing three periods against Ruby Q, scoring a 6-3 win.
Joey Casey scored three times in the match with Nacho Badiola, Timmy Sharma and
Gene Goldstein adding single goals in the victory. Joaquin Panelo scored twice for
Ruby Q with teammate J. J. Celis adding a goal in the loss.

The final round of play had Ruby Q holding on to win a 3-2 contest against Cinque Terre
with all three goals coming from Panelo. Ruby Q jumped out to a 2-1 first chukker lead
with Bazzoni accounting for the only Cinque Terre goal. A single goal from Panelo gave
Ruby Q a 3-1 advantage with Lucas Lalor giving Cinque Terre the closing goal in a
closely contested match.

With all three teams carrying 1-1 records the winner was decided on net goals scored,
with Cinque Terre carrying the day with a +4 net goals.