Mt. Brilliant w ins 16-goal Everglades Classic Opener

By Alex Webbe

South African 7-goaler Sugar Erskine set the pace for Mt. Brilliant Saturday afternoon, scoring seven times in the opening game of the 2012 Everglades Classic at the International Polo Club in Wellington.

Erskine burned up the field in the opening chukker for Mt. Brilliant, scoring the first three goals of the match from the field. Tommy Biddle managed a goal from the field for MetalTek (who received one goal by handicap from the 16-goal Mt. Brilliant team). At the end of the first period, Mt. Brilliant was ahead, 3-2.

Two second chukker goals from Biddle had MetalTek on top 4-3, but Erskine’s fourth goal of the day had it all even at the end of the period, 4-4.

Biddle provided more firepower for MetalTek in the third, converting on two 60-yard penalty shots while limiting Mt. Brilliant to a single goal from the field from Chris Nevins. MetalTek took a 6-5 halftime lead.

Mt. Brilliant tied it up at 8-8 in the fourth, getting a penalty goal from Nevins and single goals from Costi Caset and Erskine. MetalTek picked up goals from Robert Orthwein and Biddle (penalty conversion) in the tie game.

Mt. Brilliant owned the fifth chukker scoring three unanswered goals as a resolute defense shut down the MetalTek attack and the team picked up single goals from Nevins (penalty sot), Caset and Erskine. With one chukker left in regulation time, Mt. Brilliant led by three goals, 11-8.

MetalTek added single goals by Robert Orthwein and Biddle in the sixth while Erskine added is seventh goal of the game for the 12-10 Mt. Brilliant win.

Biddle scored seven goals for MetalTek. Robert Orthwein added two goals and the team received one goal by handicap.

Erskine registered seven goals for Mt. Brilliant. Nevins scored three times and Caset added two goals for the victory.