USA  vs Scotland

USA Defeats Scotland  

          June 21, 2008… Portsmouth ,, RI : ….Amidst fanfare, bagpipes and swordsmanship, Team USA defeated Scotland 16-14 in a rousing match on Saturday, June 21^st in the Newport International Polo Series under glorious blue skies with a large crowd on hand.  

            Hailing from the historic Edinburgh Polo Club, the Scottish polo team was captained by veteran Dietrich Zank in his fifth appearance in the series, accompanied by James and Jamie Douglas and Hiro Suzuki.

            “The Scots have brought a secret weapon each year, including a full Pipe Band this year, but we were ready for them,” stated Dan Keating, captain of the USA team.

           Scotland was awarded a 1-goal handicap at the outset of the match.  USA's Jim DeAngelis led off the scoring, followed by a penalty conversion shot by Scotland's Suzuki to take the lead until USA's Ted Torre tied it up at 2-2 before the end of the first period.  Suzuki scored again for Scotland early in the second period, but the next 4 goals were scored by USA's DeAngelis with 3, and Christer Still for a convincing lead, reduced by another goal from Suzuki to end the period 6-4 in USA's favor.  In the third chukker, it was Suzuki scoring again to come within a point of USA's lead, but DeAngelis unleashed 3 more points and teammate Dan Keating added a point as well, to boost USA's lead to 10-5 at the half. 

           An undaunted Scottish team kept up the momentum in the fourth period by exchanging goal for goal with USA, starting with a penalty conversion by James Douglas the younger, then a USA goal by Still,  followed by James Douglas again, then a penalty conversion by DeAngelis, and a final point by Suzuki for a 12-8 USA lead.  Scotland had back to back penalties in the fifth, which were converted to goals by DeAngelis and Keating respectively, but held it's ground with a goal and a penalty shot conversion, both by Suzuki to end the period 14-10.  The final period was action-packed with multiple goals from each side: Scotland's Dietrich Zank and Suzuki both scored a pair but USA's DeAngelis added a couple of points as well to win the match 16-14.

           This year's match marks the fifth consecutive year that Scotland has participated in the Polo Series.  A following of Scottish fans from throughout the region has grown each year in attendance at the match, wearing kilts and waving 'the Saltire' St. Andrews cross in lively support of their fellow countrymen.  

           The Mystic Highland Pipers Band took to the field several times including a rendition of the national anthem as well as a swordsmanship demonstration at half-time.  Their appearance was sponsored by Atlantic Technology Group LLC - a premier provide of Managed Computing and Advanced Infrastructure Solutions in Southern New England.  A Tiverton, RI man won the coveted Bose Wave Stereo door prize during the match.  The two-hour match was followed by a trophy presentation of the perpetual USA vs. Scotland cup, inaugurated in '04,  and the naming of the Best Playing Pony, Una owned by Dan Keating.

           The polo matches take place every Saturday in June, July, August and September on the outskirts of Newport.   Tickets to the matches are sold at the gate on the day of the match.  Tailgate picnics on the lawn are welcome with field-side admission of $10.00 for adults, and children 15 & under are free.  Box seating in the Subscribers Enclosure is also available.