ERG tops Audi 12-7; earns Butler
Handicap final berth

By Alex Webbe

ERG broke the game open in the third chukker, scoring five goals and racing out to a
commanding 9-4 halftime score on their way to a 12-7 victory over Audi in the semifinals
of the Butler Handicap at the International Polo Club in Wellington, Florida Thursday
afternoon. The win boosts ERG into the tournament finals on Sunday when they will
meet the winner of Friday’s Piaget vs. Orchard Hill showdown.

Paco de Narvaez scored the opening goal of the game on a 60-yard penalty shot for an
early ERG lead, but Nico Pieres responded with a pair of goals (one on a penalty shot)
to move Audi in front, 2-1.

ERG stormed back into play in the second, scoring three straight goals for a 4-2 lead.
Agustin Merlos scored on a penalty shot followed by a pair of goals from the field from
teammate de Narvaez. Ten-goaler Gonzalito Pieres closed out the scoring with a goal
to cut the ERG lead to a single goal, 4-3.

ERG ran all over Audi in the third period of play, outscoring them 5-1 and running up
a five goal, 9-5 halftime lead. Merlos opened the chukker with a goal from the field
which was answered by a goal from Gonzalito Pieres. Merlos responded with three
consecutive goals followed by a 60-yard penalty conversion from de Narvaez. A
stunned Audi left the field trying to figure out what happened to them.

A refocused Audi defense returned to action in the second half, limiting ERG to a single
fourth chukker penalty goal from Merlos. Nico Pieres scored once from the field and
once on a penalty shot, but Audi could get no closer than four goals, 10-6.

The Audi defense did its job once again in the fifth, holding their offense scoreless, but
the Audi offense managed only a single penalty goal (Nico Pieres). The lead was cut
to just three goals, 10-7, but the lead belonged to ERG and there was only one chukker
left in regulation time.

The ERG defense stepped up in the final period and kept the Audi team off of the
scoreboard completely. Single goals were added to the ERG total by Eduardo Astrada
and Merlos for the 12-7 final with the only unusual activity occurring in the sixth chukker
being the inadvertent triggering of the sprinkler system on the north end of the field at
the 2:43 mark.

Merlos led the scoring parade with seven goals. De Narvaez scored four times and
Astrada added a goal for the win. Nico Pieres was credited with five goals for Audi.
Gonzalito Pieres scored twice in a losing effort.

ERG will play the winner of Friday’s Piaget vs. Orchard Hill game in Sunday’s noon
finals of the 2013 Butler Handicap.

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