NEWPORT WINS NAILBITER
In the final seconds of play, Newport scored the tie-breaking goal to win the Newport Cup 11-10 against Cigar Masters on Saturday, Sept. 30 in the Newport International Polo Series.

Newport's captain, Dan Keating, in the #3 position, brought home the game high of 7 goals including the tying goal and the tie-breaking winner both in the sixth chukka, in addition to pairs of goals in the third and fourth, and one in the second chukka. Mary Weaver Rose and Dave Bullis, alternating in the #2 position, each scored a point in the first and sixth chukkas, respectively. Jacki Shore, alternating with Christian Haler in the #1 position, scored in the third chukka. Leonard Nihan, playing in the #4 position, scored in the fifth chukka. Playing in the #3 position, Jonathan Kaye, captain of Cigar Masters of Boston Ma, scored thrice, in the first, second and fourth chukkas. Mark Wright was good for three points with a pair in the third chukka and one in the fifth, and alternated in the #1 position with Jim Garner, who scored in the fourth chukka. Brook Pastore also scored two goals, including one in the first chukka and another in the fifth, while alternating in the #2 position with Jim Zinsky. Wayne Gordon played in the #4 position.

There was plenty of action in the opening chukka of the Newport Cup as Cigar Masters blew rings around Newport, 3-1. Newport found its footing in the second chukka, and the two teams attacked and defended relentlessly to a one point draw, for a score of 4-2. In the third chukka, Newport gained momentum on their opponents with three goals to their two, and closed in on Cigar Masters' lead, 6-5. In the second half, both teams kept the pressure on, knowing that a 1-point lead meant nothing, yet it meant something when deuces for each side kept Cigar Masters in front 8-7. That edge kept Cigar Masters in control in the fifth when they secured their lead with two more goals to Newport's one, 10-8. But the sixth chukka changed the course of history, as Newport came back with two goals to tie and one last gasp to score the winning goal, to the ovations of a glorious autumn day crowd, winning 11-10.

The Newport Polo Club hosts the Newport International Polo Series every Saturday from Memorial Day to October. The 2000 season concludes this weekend with the Women's North East Regional Tournament on Oct. 6-8. The finals and tailgating competition will be on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 3:00 pm at historic Glen Farm in Portsmouth. For more information, please call 401-846-0200 or visit the website: www.glenfarm.com.