Newport vs. Blue Sky

NEW YORK RIVALS WRESTLE ONE AWAY FROM NEWPORT

July 10, 2000, Portsmouth, RI: With a caravan of 21 thoroughbreds, Blue Sky Polo Club of Middleton, New York, stormed the local polo field on Saturday, July 8^th to outlast Newport USA 18-16 as first-time challengers in the Newport International Polo Series.

Blue Sky was captained by 4-goaler Esteban Scott in the #3 position, who dazzled the crowd of nearly 1,000 spectators with 11 goals scattered throughout the match, striking three in the first and second chukkas, one in each of the next three chukkas, and two more in the fifth and sixth chukkas. Offensive muscle was provided by Neil Cohen in the #1 position, who scored twice in the first and fourth chukkas and once in the fifth. Forward, Arra Mores assisted in the #2 position. In the #4 position, Dan Reagan contributed to the victory with goals in the third and fourth chukkas.

High scorer of the day for Newport was Jonathan Kaye, in the #3 position, posting two points each in the second, third and fourth chukkas. With a strategic change to the #2 position, captain Dan Keating wrestled to minimize Scott, Blue Sky’s primary threat, before mounting his team’s comeback at the finale with a goal in the fifth and three goals in the sixth chukka. Mark Wright and Leonard Nihan added momentum to the overall effort with critical goals in the first chukka by Nihan, playing #4, and in the resurgent fifth chukka by Wright in the #1 position.

The high-scoring dual was a fast-paced thriller from the start. Newport USA was given a 4-goal handicap to equalize the individual player handicap ratio. Undaunted by the their high-goal rivals, Newport came out swinging and kept the score tied 5-5 at the end of the first chukka. Blue Sky’s dominance showed by the second chukka when they moved ahead 9-7. Newport held their ground through the third chukka, with each team posting two more goals. In the fourth chukka, Blue Sky widened the lead to 15-11. Newport rallied in the fifth chukka with two more goals, holding off Blue Sky to only one, and in the final chukka, fans were on their feet as Newport tied the match 16-16 but were unable to prevent two more goals by Blue Sky in the final minutes of play.