USA vs Ireland

IRELAND BESTS USA

Portsmouth, RI:…… In their ninth annual appearance at the Newport International Polo Series, Ireland rode off with a 10-6 victory against Newport USA before a record crowd on Saturday, July 29^th.

The prime target for USA's defense was Ireland's #3, Aaron Caffrey, a finalist in the European Championships last season, who scored twice in the second and fourth chukkas and again in the fifth and sixth chukkas. Team captain Michael Herbst, in the #4 position, maintained his team's 1.6 goal-per-chukka average with a pair of goals in the third chukka. In the #1 position, his daughter Siobhan Herbst, one of Ireland's top women polo players and first woman to represent Irish polo on American soil, knocked in Ireland's first goal during the opening chukka. Johnny Kavanaugh, formerly the highest rated polo player in Ireland, held off USA's late rebound with a goal in the final chukka from the #2 position.

Newport USA mounted a combined team of veteran players and future stars for a taste of international competition. In the #4 position, local polo gypsy Kim Nickerson, revved up the team with its first two goals in the opening chukkas. Aram Schefrin battled in the #2 position for the first half, substituted by Tarzan Mark Wright in the second half, who advanced USA's hopes with goals in the fifth and sixth chukkas. USA captain Dan Keating unified the team's comeback with goals in the fourth and sixth chukkas. Julie Nelson matched wits and mallets in the #1 position with Ireland's Siobhan Herbst during the first half, substituted by Jim Zinsky in the second half, a formidable opponent on Ireland's turf earlier in the year.

Suspense was high as the score remained even during the first chukka, with Ireland matching goals by USA, 1-1, and again in the second chukka, until Ireland took the lead as the bell rang, ending the second chukka ahead 3-2. USA faded during the third chukka as Ireland kept up the attack with 2 more goals, leaving the field at half-time with a 5-2 lead. The second half resumed with the same 2-goal momentum for the Irish while USA flashed a sparked of fury with goal to end the chukka 7-3. The fifth chukka became a heated dual as USA's substitutions plied themselves to stop Ireland's advance, resulting in single goals for each, 8-4. The drama ensued into the final chukka, with USA muscling in two aggressive goals to come within striking distance of Ireland's lead, but were rebuffed when Ireland padded its lead with another two goals to end the match 10-6.

The Newport International Polo Series resumes at 5:00 p.m. next Saturday, August 5, at historic Glen Farm in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. For more information, call 401 847-7090.