White Birch to meet Circa in Hampton Cup finals

By Alex Webbe

Equuleus fought its way to an 11-9, two goal lead with two minutes to play in the semifinals of
the 2011 Hampton Cup at the Bridgehampton Polo Club before falling to Circa’s last chukker
rally in a 12-11 loss.

“I can’t believe it,” said Equuleus 6-goaler Kris Kampsen. “We had it; we were up by two goals
in the final chukker.”

Circa received one goal by handicap from the 20-goal Equuleus team and quickly added to it. A
pair of goals from Magoo Laprida and a single goal from Martin Pepa had Circa in front 4-0 after
the first seven minutes of play.

Equuleus fought its way back into the game with goals from Mariano Gonzalez, Mariano
Obregon and Kampsen while holding circa scoreless. At the end of the second chukker Circa
held a narrow 4-3 lead.

The third chukker of the contest had two faces. Opening goals from Laprida, Pepa and Guille
Aguero scooted Circa ahead, 7-3, before Equuleus could react. A furious attack by the Equuleus
team resulted in costly fouls by the Circa team, with Gonzalez converting one penalty shot and
Kampsen tallying two more from the penalty line. At the end of the first half Circa held on to
its narrow 7-6, one goal advantage.

Aguero gave circa a brief 8-6 edge to open the second half, but consecutive goals from
Kampsen (one by penalty, one from the field) had it all even at 8-8 after four chukkers.

Aguero added another goal to the Circa total in the fifth, but a pair of goals from the sure-
hitting Kampsen gave Equuleus a 10-9 lead after five chukkers.

Obregon’s second goal of the game had Equuleus up by two goals, 11-9 deep into the final
chukker when Laprida came to the rescue. One goal from the field and a pair of penalty goals
proved to be the difference in the 12-11 Circa win.

Kampsen led all scoring with seven goals. Obregon and Gonzalez scoffed two goals apiece in
the loss. Laprida scored six times for Circa. Aguero added three and Pepa scored twice. Circa
received one goal by handicap.

WHITE BIRCH 15, HEATHCOTE 13

In earlier action, a strong fourth chukker and ten goals from Canadian Fred Mannix powered
White birch to a 15-13 win over Heathcote, who’s last chukker rally fell a couple of goals sort in
the earlier Hampton Cup semifinal.

Heathcote received three goals by handicap, with Mannix scoring the first goal from the field
in the first of two semifinal matches scheduled for play. Mariano Gracida added another goal
for White Birch before Tommy Biddle gave Heathcote a 4-2 lead with his first goal of the day.
Mannix closed out the first chukker scoring with his second goal of the game, as White Birch
whittled the Heathcote lead down to a manageable 4-3 advantage.

White Birch fouls put Biddle on the penalty line in second period action. Biddle converted two
shots for penalty goals before Mannix went on a run for White Birch. Three consecutive goals
by Mannix ended the chukker with the teams deadlocked at 6-6.

Mariano Aguerre converted a 60-yard penalty shot for White Birch in the third, followed by
goals from Mannix (40-yard penalty goal) and Adam Lindeman (substituting for White Birch
team captain Peter Brant). Biddle converted another penalty shot for the closing goal of the
chukker with White Birch boasting a 9-7 halftime lead.

The fourth chukker belonged to White Birch with four unanswered goals being tallied as
Heathcote was unable to score. A pair of goals from Mannix and single goals from Aguerre and
Gracida had White Birch out in front 13-7 with just two chukkers left to play.

Mannix opened the fifth with a pair of goals from the field giving White Birch a commanding 15-
7 advantage before Heathcote could respond. Goals from Naco Taverna and Biddle ended the
scoring with White Birch riding off the field on top of a 15-9 score.

Heathcote attempted a last chukker rally, with Nick Manifold scoring twice while teammates
Biddle and Taverna added single goals, but the rally fell short with White Birch celebrating the
15-13 win.

Mannix led all scoring with ten goals. Gracida and Aguerre added two goals apiece and
Lindemann added a goal for the win.

Biddle’s six goals set the pace for Heathcote. Taverna and Manifold each scored twice.
Heathcote received three goals by handicap.

The victory will pit White birch against Circa in the 2011 Hampton Cup finals with a date and

time yet to be determined.