USA vs Spain

SPAIN EVENS SCORE WITH USA

Spain returned to Newport after losing here eight years ago, to even the score against USA by defeating the home team 14-7 on Saturday, August 26^th in the Newport International Polo Series.

The Spanish polo team was led by team captain Josi Ignacio Domecq of Madrid in the #3 position, who scored three damaging goals in the fourth chukka and single goals in the third and sixth chukkas. Younger brother, German Domecq of Madrid, playing in the #2 position, was the high scorer of the match with a total of seven, earned with pairs of goals in the first, third and fifth chukkas and one in the fourth. In the #4 position, Josi Maria Trenor of Barcelona scored in the opening chukka and again in the fifth chukka. Rounding out the foursome was the colorful Enrique Barroso from Seville in the #1 position.

USA's captain, Dan Keating, playing in the #3 position, managed to evade Spain’s double and triple teaming long enough to score once in the fourth chukka and twice in the sixth chukka. Kim Knickerson, in the #2 position, kept the scores close early in the match with a pair of goals in the second chukka. Alternating in the #4 position, were Jonathan Kaye, who scored in the third chukka, and Chip Stiegler, adding a point in the sixth chukka. Playing in the #1 position for USA was Dave Bullis.

Spain bolted ahead in the opening chukka with three unanswered goals, provoking USA with a 3-0 lead. It was all USA in the second chukka, coming from behind with two goals to stifle the Spanish team for a long seven minutes and close in on their opponent's lead, 3-2. Spain’s rally cry in the third chukka resounded again with a three goal attack while USA struggled with only one of their own, ending the first half in the visitors’ favor, 6-3. Resuming the second half with the advantage, Spain played confidently in the fourth chukka, widening the lead with four more goals to USA’s one, 10-4. The fifth chukka produced three more goals for Spain and an apparent defeat sentence for USA, 13-4, before an interruption in the match due to equine injury. The final chukka of play raised the hopes of the American fans as their heroes rallied with goal after goal but the closing bell came too early to erase the deficit, resulting in a 14-7 loss. While the Spanish team took pleasure from the champagne-filled victor’s cup this time, USA pledged to avenge the loss next season.

The Newport International Polo Series resumes at 4:00 p.m. next Saturday, September 2, at historic Glen Farm in Portsmouth when USA takes on legendary England. For more information, call 847-7090.