Mon 8th Feb 2021Beverly Polo Bring Home Ylvisaker CupStrong offence & defence for winning team
Rounds of competition have been underway at International Polo Club, Palm Beach since 20 January for The Ylvisaker Cup. The 16 goal line-up of Beverly Polo looked strong throughout the competition, but their opponents in the Final, Palm Beach Equine had also had an impressive run. In fact, the Final of the Ylvisaker was the fourth time the teams have faced each other in this year’s tournament. Palm Beach Equine had emerged victorious twice out of the previous three meetings, so on paper they were top seeded and certainly the ones to watch to clinch the prestigious trophy. However, as we so often see in polo, what is predicted by previous form and the pundits often fails to materialise and the Final was a different story. Beverly Polo had received a two goal scoreboard advantage for their handicap difference and rather than performing as the lesser handicapped underdogs, they came out of the pony lines with conviction and capitalised on this scoreboard bonus from the outset. Displaying a strong game both in attack and defence which left their (by now familiar) opponents on the day, Palm Beach Equine trailing for the whole game. The key to Beverley Polo’s success must be attributed to the outstandingly strong game played by Tolito Fernández Ocampo, rated at six and his partner in crime, Hilario Figureras who both scored five goals apiece. There was a high rate of scoring from both teams, so that by half-time it was still Beverly Polo in the lead, 10-7, but Palm Beach Polo were certainly putting up a fight. However, the ‘take home’ statistic from the day was Palm Beach Equine committed 11 fouls, which resulted in six penalty conversions for Beverley Polo, which cost them the victory, both mentally and on the scoreboard itself. So, despite a valiant fight, it was not Palm Beach Equine’s day and Scott Swerdlin’s team had to accept defeat at the hands of an increasingly impressive Beverley Polo 15-11. For his five goal scoring tally Figueras was awarded Most Valuable Player, whilst the Best Playing Pony Award was given to One Juliana, played by Tolito Ocampo throughout the game. Bill Ballhaus received the 18 Goal Sportsmanship Award. Ylvisaker Cup Final Teams: Beverly Polo (16): Bill Ballhaus (0), Joaquín Panelo – subbing in for Peke Gonzalez (6), Tolito Fernández Ocampo (6) & Hilario Figueras (4) Palm Beach Equine (18): Costi Caset (5), Robbie Bilbao (5), Gringo Colombres (8) & Scott Swerdlin (0 Photograph: Beverly Polo, winners of The Ylvisaker Cup. By ©Alex Pacheo |