WELLINGTON, Florida – Isla Carroll built up a big lead but had to hold off a late rally to defeat San Saba 13-12 in a 22-goal Hall of Fame Cup polo match Thursday at International Polo Club Palm Beach. San Saba scored the final four goals of the game, the last one by 9-goaler Agustin Merlos with two seconds remaining.

In other Hall of Fame Cup action, 10-goaler Javier Novillo Astrada scored six goals as Las Monjitas crushed Orchard Hill 12-3.

There were five ties, all in the first half, before Isla Carroll took control with four unanswered goals in the fourth chukker, two apiece by 5-goaler Tomas del Rio and 8-goaler Pancho Bensadon.

Isla Carroll extended the lead to 13-8 on 8-goaler Sugar Erskine’s goal early in the sixth chukker before San Saba launched a furious comeback.

Erskine finished with six goals and Bensadon added five goals for Isla Carroll (2-1). del Rio added two goals while patron John Goodman did not score. Merlos finished with a game-high nine goals, including three in the final chukker. Luis Echezarreta added two goals for San Saba (1-2) but Hector Galindo and patron Tommy Lee Jones did not score.

In the second game, Las Monjitas (1-1) scored the first seven goals, three each by 10-goaler Javier Novillo Astrada and his 9-goal brother, Eduardo, to coast to victory. Orchard Hill (0-2) finally scored when 8-goaler Julio Arellano converted a 60-yard penalty shot with 2:53 remaining in the fourth chukker. Eduardo Novillo Astrada finished with four goals and Willie Hartnett added two goals for Las Monjitas. Arellano finished with two goals and Orchard Hill patron Steve Van Andel scored one goal.

Seventeen teams entered the tournament. The Hall of Fame Cup final is Sunday, February 29 at 3 p.m. at the International Polo Club Palm Beach stadium.

The polo matches are open to the public. Tickets for the Sunday games at the International Polo Club Palm Beach are available at the gate, beginning at $10 each. For information, call (561) 204-5687 or visit the club website at www.internationalpoloclub.com.

International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South in Wellington. From I-95, take the Forest Hill Boulevard exit and go west approximately 12 miles. Turn left onto South Shore Boulevard and go two miles. Turn left onto Pierson Road, travel about one mile and then make a right onto 120th Avenue South. The club is on the right. From Florida’s Turnpike, take Exit 93 (Lake Worth Road) and go west about six miles. Make a right onto 120th Avenue South. The club is on the left.

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