A festive air prevailed over the Kaua‘i Polo Club’s Anini field last Sunday for the final match of the 2004 season. Sidelines were filled with tailgaters, grandstand was full, tents were up, pupus were out, and to top everything off
A festive air prevailed over the Kaua‘i Polo Club’s Anini field last Sunday for the final match of the 2004 season. Sidelines were filled with tailgaters, grandstand was full, tents were up, pupus were out, and to top everything off about 30 members of the Sons of Kaua‘i motorcycle group with their Harleys were on hand to support their team. Not to be outdone, Tahiti Nui brought their stellar group Peter Piilani, Honey Girl Ho‘omanauanui, and Joe Ponomo‘i — to back their team and to entertain the crowd with their magical renditions of Hawaiian songs before and after the game, as well as between chukkers. This was the scene for the season’s feud between Bill Marston’s Tahiti Nui team and Diego Lopez’s Global Mortgage Group (playing as Sons of Kaua‘i team) to be settled. When the final horn sounded nothing was settled finally as the two teams played to a 5-5 tie.
Prior to the game a marvelous parade on the polo field of the bikes ridden by the Sons of Kaua‘i Group was enthusiastically viewed by the spectators. Explanation of the various types of bikes being paraded was narrated by Diego Lopez.
To add further excitement the dynamic father/son duo of Ronnie and Rustan Tongg were on the field on opposing teams. These two players from O‘ahu are special favorites with the fans. All time favorite Kamalu Sheldon took off his umpire’s stripes and donned polo player gear to enter the fray for the first time this year. The return to the microphone of Inger Pa, the “Velvet Voice” of Kaua‘i Polo, brought cheers from the crowd.
The Honorable Bryan Baptiste, Mayor of Kaua‘i, got the match off to a fast start as he tossed in the first ball. The two teams gelled early on with both John Elwin and Peter Cameron turning in good performances playing the number two position for their respective teams. Scott Sims continued to amaze polo fans with his fast aggressive play.
Shortly before the horn sounded Rustan Tongg took center stage, fired off a pop fly, galloped down half the field, and slammed the ball over the goal line to tally the first score of the afternoon.
Henry Rosa, who was instrumental in forming the Sons of Kaua‘i Motorcycle Group in 2003, tossed in the ball to open the second chukker.
Ronnie and Rustan Tongg continuously squared off against each other for ball control, and each demonstrated superior stick work, horsemanship, hooking and riding off skills. When a penalty 4 was called against Sons of Kaua‘i, Ronnie Tongg took the free hit from 60 yards to a defended goal; and, with uncanny precision, unleashed a powerful offside forehand shot that sailed high overhead between the goal posts for a Tahiti Nui score.
It wasn’t long before a penalty 4 was called against Tahiti Nui. This time Rustan Tongg took the free hit from 60 yards to a defended goal. To the amazement of all the ball bounced off the rump of a horse and went right over the goal line.
Tahiti Nui controlled the third chukker keeping Sons of Kaua‘i off the scoreboard. Ronnie Tongg scored twice. The second time involved a beautiful maneuver when he and Rustan were competing for ball control, and Ronnie came away with the ball keeping it all the way down the field to punch it across the goal line.
The remaining goal was tallied by Cameron after receiving a precise pass from Ronnie who had just foiled a Sons shot on goal.
The final chukker was fast and furious with the Sons of Kaua‘i really pulling out all the stops. Rustan Tongg scored first. Ronnie then took over, bumped Sims to keep control of the ball, and effortlessly sent the ball between the pylons.
But Sims never gives up, and on his trusty little Arabian charged through the traffic, got the ball and kept it all the way to the goal line. Demonstrating excellent team work, Rustan and Elwin worked together with Elwin having a perfect opportunity to make the final score with less than 30 seconds to play in the match. When the final horn sounded it was Sons of Kaua‘i 5, Tahiti Nui 5.
Both teams and Umpire Stuart Mackenzie were presented with orchid leis by Lori Marston, Cynthia Lopez, and Sioux Mackenzie. Many fans wanted photo ops with the players and horses, as well as with the Sons of Kaua‘i and their bikes.
All in all it was a grand finale for the Kauai Polo Club 2004 season.
Teams: Sons of Kauai: Scott Sims, John Elwin, Rustan Tongg. Tahiti Nui: Kamalu Sheldon, Peter Cameron, Ronnie Tongg. Umpire: Stuart Mackenzie.
