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Crab Orchard Captures Stanford U.S. Open Championship

April 20, 2008

WELLINGTON, FL - Crab Orchard successfully defended its Stanford US Open Polo Championship title today against a stubborn Las Monjitas team 15-12 before a sell out crowd at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Stanford U.S. Open Champions; Crab Orchard - L to R: Jeff Blake, Nachi Heguy,
Beverly Rawlings, Adolfo Cambiaso and George Rawlings
Photo by Alex Pacheco

From the opening bowl-in it was evident both teams were evenly matched and going to fight hard to claim the most coveted title in American Polo. It was Crab Orchard who struck first but both teams played almost to perfection and scored 13 of the game’s 27 goals in the first two chukkers with Crab Orchard holding the advantage 8-5.

In the third chukker the teams exchanged goals. But as time was running out Nacho and Javier Astrada combined with a pass and run combination to score in under :11 seconds from midfield. The crowd went divot stomping wondering could Las Monjitas do that all second half.

Crab Orchard gave everyone their answer in the fourth as Nachi Heguy added two more of his game total seven, to put his team up 12-8. Las Monjitas managed to close the gap in the fifth 13-11 when Javier Astrada scored three times.

MVP: Jeff Blake Photo by Alex Pacheco

“We missed a couple of goals at both ends early in the sixth and I think our horses were tired at the end when we committed those fouls,” said Las Monjitas Eduardo Astrada. Crab Orchard had gone to a ball control game and it was Jeff Blake who was later named the games Most Valuable Player that dropped back on defense to turn the plays that set up Adolfo Cambiaso to score two 60 yard penalty goals and put the game out of reach. Cambiaso added, “We were up by as many as five goals and we should never have let them get back into the game. Winning this is what we came for. ”“We put a lot of pressure on the new guys and they sure came through for us,” said Crab Orchard Captain George Rawlings. “After winning last year we were the team to beat this time.

I traded for Nachi Heguy and Jeff Blake and they sure became the Crab Orchard team…nothing can compare to winning the US Open.” When asked about a three peat Rawlings said, “I want to savor this victory we just played and won seven straight games. I may just take a year off and savor this.” Adolfo Cambaiso earlier had said he would be playing in Argentina next year and would probably not be back.

Cambiaso and Heguy scored seven goals each for the Orchard boys and Nacho Astrada led his team with six. Best Playing Pony Honors went to Cambiaso’s horse Sylvia and the Best Horse of the Tournament honors went to Pico Blanco owned by Nacho Astrada.

Best Playing Pony of the Stanford U.S. Open Final - "Sylvia" - Adolfo Cambiaso
Photo by Alex Pacheco

Best Playing Pony of the Stanford U.S. Open Tournament
" Pico Blanco" owned by Nacho Astrada.
Photo by Alex Pacheco

The North American Polo League awarded its national championship $100,000 to Skeeterville and gave another NAPL team Crab Orchard the Skeeter trophy for its victory.

Julio Arellano and Will Johnston accept the award for the
Skeeterville Polo Team from Charles Smith
Photo by Alex Pacheco

CRAB ORCHARD 3-4-2-2-1-2=15 (7 penalty goals)Nachi Heguy/Adolfo Cambiaso 7 LAS MONJITAS 3-2-2-1-2-1= 11 (4-penalty goals) Nacho Astrada 6

Click Here for the full schedule, scores and rosters of the Stanford U.S. Open Polo Championship.