The final match of the 2005 Kaua’i Polo Club season was a barn burner with Savage Pearls taking the measure of Island Hardware by a 6-4 score at the Anini Polo Field last Sunday in front of a record crowd of spectators.
Sponsor Robin Savage tossed in the first ball, and in the first half minute Scott Sims had cleared the ball, bumped off Rustan Tongg, took control of the ball, and charged to goal ending with a crisp forehand shot that split the pylons to put Savage Pearls in the lead.
The play settled into fast- paced action, which continued throughout the game.
But late in the first chukker, Sims brought the fans to their feet cheering when he challenged Ricardo Villegas, took the ball, and riding fearlessly, charged through the traffic to score again.
To the delight of all, Jimmi Majeres got the second chukker underway with the toss in.
Midway through the period, with the ball in the goal mouth and the players swarming around it, in a split second Ronnie Tongg got control, whipped the ball to Kamalu Sheldon (who had given up his umpire duties and was playing in his first match this season), and Sheldon slammed through the tight packed opposition to put Island Hardware on the scoreboard.
Rustan Tongg followed by clearing the toss in, and charging down the field with perfect ball control, struck a beautiful forehand shot sailing over and between the pylons.
Corinne McCabe, representing sponsor Island Hardware, tossed in the ball to launch the third period, and within the first minute Rustan cleared with a shot to Villegas, then smoked ahead to pick up the return shot and kept charging with the ball right over the goal line to score for Island Hardware.
Villegas took a penalty shot from the point of an infraction, and just kept going coast to coast with fans cheering and sailed the ball between the pylons.
The Tonggs scored 3 goals in the fourth and final chukker. First, Rustan took a neat pass from Villegas, got in front of the pack, and charged down the field to score.
Next, Ronnie, displaying marvelous horsemanship and stick work, effortlessly outwitted the opposition, and threaded his way to score.
Finally, taking a knock in from Villegas, Ronnie hit a backhand pop fly, then retained control of the ball and maneuvered through the traffic to put up the final goal of the match and of the season.
Teams: Island Hardware: Peter Cameron, Rustan Tongg, Ricardo Villegas. Savage Pearls: David Speer, Kamalu Sheldon, Scott Sims, Ronnie Tongg. Umpire: Stuart Mackenzie. Announcer: Inger Pa. Scorekeeper/Timer: Jack Layton.
