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USPA PIAGET GOLD CUP ACTION BEGINS

March 5 , 2008

WELLINGTON, FL -Three North American Polo League teams set the fields on fire today at the International Polo Club Palm Beach and blazed a trail in the opening matches of the USPA Piaget Gold Cup.

In the first game of the day, Black Watch defeated Orchard Hill 13-12 in a game dominated by brothers Pablo and Matias MacDonough, who both scored six a piece. Pablo scored six from the field, while Matias capitalized on his six penalty shots.

Crab Orchard's Nachi Heguy (in black) fighting off Pony Express's David Sterling

During the second game, Mariano Gonzalez's eight goals ensured Bendabout defeated Lechuza Caracas 14-12. The score was 10-9 in Lechuza Caracas's favor at the end of the fifth chukker. But three penalty goals scored by Gonzalez and two goals scored from his teammates, brothers Alejandro “Negro” and Miguel Astrada in the sixth, sealed the victory for Bendabout.

“We needed a game like this,” said Gonzalez, who scored five penalty shots and three from the field. “It worked well. It's very easy to play with this team. Once it clicked – it clicked.”

The final game saw 2007 Piaget Gold Cup winner Crab Orchard overtake Pony Express 11-8. The game was tied four times during the first four chukkers, ending the fourth at seven a piece. Crab Orchard's Nachi Heguy opened the fifth with two consecutive goals followed by one from the field by teammate Adolfo Cambiaso. Heguy, who scored a total of five goals in today's game, sealed the deal as he scored the final goal at the end of the sixth.

Piaget Gold Cup action will continue tomorrow, as Zacara will face off against White Birch at 10:30 a.m. at International Polo Club.

The Piaget Gold Cup, in its second year at International Polo Club, has been played since 1974 and is one of only three polo tournaments rated at 26 goals in the United States. The other two are the C.V. Whitney and the Stanford U.S. Open Polo Championship.

International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120 th Avenue South in Wellington and hosts professional polo tournaments until April 20. The premier game of the week is played at 3 PM every Sunday on the Stanford Field and Stadium. Information can be obtained by calling 561-204-5687 or the Polo Hotline for game updates at 561-282-5290. Web address, www.internationalpoloclub.com or www.northamericanpololeague.com

BLACK WATCH 3-3-2-0-3-2 = 13 (6 penalty shot) Pablo and MatiasMacDonough 6
ORCHARD HILL 2-2-2-4-1-1 = 12 (2 penalty shot) Jeff Hall 5

BENDABOUT 2-1-2-1-3-5 = 14 (5 penalty shot) Mariano Gonzalez 8
LECHUZA CARACAS 0-2-2-3-3-2 =12 (3 penalty shot) Pite Merlos 7

CRAB ORCHARD 1-3-2-1-3-1 = 11 (3 penalty shot) Nachi Heguy 5
PONY EXPRESS 2-2-1-2-0-1 =8 (2 penalty shot) David Sterling 4

Click Here for the updated Piaget Gold Cup Roster and Schedule