White team wins polo tournament

LED BY four goals from the visiting Canadian pro Daniel Roenisch, the White team captured the NCB Capital Markets polo tournament on Sunday when they defeated the Blue team 4-3 in the High-Goal Challenge final at the Kingston Polo Club, Caymanas Estates.

Both emerged winners of their semi-final matches at the same venue last Thursday, the White team comprising Roenisch, Troy Brennan (captain), Andy Vernon and Paul Lalor defeating the Yellow team 6-3 to advance, while the Blue team clipped Green 7-6 in overtime to set up the final showdown.

Representing the Blue team were Shane Chin (captain), his brother Kurt Chin, Lesley Fong-Yee and the visiting Argentinean pro Carlos Pando.

In Sunday's consolation final between the losing semi-finalists, Yellow beat Green 6-3 with two goals each from Mitta Rousseau and the Argentinean pro Jorge Donovan.

Green were represented by John G. Byles (captain), the Melville brothers ? Alexander and Mark, as well as the visiting Argentinean pro Tomas Lalor, the highest rated player in the tournament by virtue of a seven-goal handicap.

The final between White and Blue provided keen competition as neither team managed to score in the first chukka which lasted seven minutes.

Still, the White team came close to scoring twice, firstly when Troy Brennan's high shot was blocked in front of the goal and minutes later when Lalor's long hit from the right side was hastily cleared near the line.

The pace picked up in the second chukka with both teams exhibiting good horsemanship, especially Roenisch, teammate Andy Vernon and Fong-Yee, the island's top female player.

However, it was the Blue team which went ahead shortly after the resumption, thanks to a goal from close in by Kurt Chin. But the lead proved shortlived, as Roenisch quickly came into his own, scoring a 30-yard penalty to level the scores 1-1 at half-time.

It was Roenisch again early in the third chukka as the White team assumed the lead, but Blue fought back strongly and minutes later Fong-Yee flicked in the equaliser from close range.

RAPID-FIRE GOALS

With the scores tied at 2-2, Roenisch showed just how good a player he is with two rapid-fire goals in the space of two minutes.

The first was a 60-yard 'safety', a free hit given to the opposing team following a corner. And this was immediately followed by a quick breakaway which saw Roenisch dropping an ace in the hole, so to speak.

With a 4-2 lead going into the fourth and final chukka, the White team never looked like slipping up over this seven-minute period and although conceding a goal in the final minute of play, were beyond recall at this stage and were worthy champions.

Rosenisch, who plays professionally in Calgary, Canada, said he was pleased with his performance on this his second visit to Jamaica and made some observations.

"They brought me here to play some good polo and I simply got the job done," he said of his performance.

"Although my scoring was spot on, it was a very good team effort. I thought Paul Lalor played very well and there was some good defensive work from Andy Vernon who hits a very strong ball and defensively is real tough.

"The standard of play here in Jamaica is fairly high for a non-professional polo outfit," said the 25-year-old player who stands six feet, three inches tall.

In the presentation of trophies and prizes following the final, Andy Vernon, who helped White to the title with two goals in the semi-finals, copped the award as the tournament's MVP.

Sympatico, owned by Jamaica Polo Association president Dennis Lalor, was named best pony, while umpire Juan Humbert was also recognised along with Jose Mosquera, winner of the penalty shootout.

In a short address, Lalor thanked the sponsors NCB Capital Markets Limited, as well as the overseas players along with members of the polo fraternity "who worked so hard to put this tournament together and the players who made their ponies available".

He disclosed that the Kingston Polo Club started in Jamaica in 1886 and the aim of the association is to expose polo to a greater number of persons.

Also speaking was Chris Williams, managing director of NCB Capital Markets Limited.

? O. C.