The 131st. Hurlingham Open, the first leg of the 2024 Triple Crown in Argentina, will come to an end on Saturday October 5, with the championship match between La Dolfina Saudi and La Natividad, due on the the club’s main ground, Lewis Lacey.
The Cañuelas-based lineups, neigbours and family, will clash again in the second derby of polo of the XXI Century. But on this occasion this final have some extra spice, indeed: the decisive game of the 131st. Hurlingham Open will be the perfect match, the 80-goal final. The last time an official 80-goal contest was played was in 2018, in another derby of polo, Ellerstina vs. La Dolfina. And, like today, in 2024, it was a Hurlingham Open final with Ellerstina victorious 12-11.
It’s worth to remember that the first ever 80-goal match took place on Saturday November 1 1975, at Palermo, in an event called “The Match of the Century”. However, it was not an official game, just an exhibition, that included all the 10-goalers of the time. The teams were named El Trébol and Venado Tuerto, regarded as the first ever derby of polo and a tribute to the two foursomes that dominated the sport through the late 30’s to halfway the 50’s in the XX Century. The lineups were composed of Alberto Pedro Heguy, Daniel González, Gonzalo Tanoira and Alfredo Harriot; and Horacio Heguy, Gastón Dorignac, Juan Carlitos Harriott and Francisco Dorignac, respectively. The result – Venado Tuerto won 7-6 – is not that significant, because in addition to being the first ever 80-goal game, the exhibition was an opportunity to conmemorate the 100th. anniversary of what is considered the first ever polo match played on Argentine soil, in 1875, between two teams called Campo and Ciudad (Countryside and City).
It was not until 2009 when the first official 80-goal match was played – a league decider in the Hurlingham Open. That day, in 2009, Ellerstina were the winners (19-13). Three more 80-goal official games would follow – the same year history was made when the first ever 80-goal Argentine Open final was played, with La Dolfina victorious 17-16. The two remaining were in 2018 – Tortugas Open final (La Dolfina 11-9 Ellerstina), and the previously stated Hurlingham Open final. It’s worth to note that, up-to-date, all the official perfect games were played by La Dolfina and Ellerstina
So, next Saturday, the current two 40-goal teams will go head-to-head in the fifth official perfect match – title holders, La Dolfina and La Natividad, with the latter not only playing rated at 40 for the first time, but in a lineup that includes two members of that Ellerstina who won the Hurlingham Open in 2018, Pablo MacDonough and Facundo Pieres. In addition, out of the eight players, four have been in the previous official 80-goal games – Adolfo Cambiaso, Pablo MacDonough, Juan Martín Nero and Facundo Pieres, all of them with two victories each.
Let’s go to the road to the final. Both lineups are undefeated in the Hurlingham Open, that was played on single elimination. Defending champions had an overwhelming debut against Indios Chapaleufu (23-9) and the semifinal was literally a battlefield against the brand new Ellerstina lineup. After a very tough, thrilling match, La Dolfina Saudi won 18-17, in extra chukka, with a golden goal by Poroto Cambiaso.
With regards to La Natividad, they also had an impressive debut against La Hache Cría & Polo (27-12), and they had their rematch in the semifinal against La Hache – in 2023, Hilario Ulloa and Co. sidelined La Natividad from the final, and this year the Castagnolas earned a spot in the decisive game after a 14-11 victory.
Therefore, the Hurlingham Club will host on Saturday October 5, the first final of the 2024 Triple Crown in Argentina. Once again, the neighbours and families will go head-to-head for a title, but this time, in the perfect match – 40 goals for the Cambiasos and 40 goals for the Castagnolas.
131st. HURLINGHAM OPEN AYSHIRE CUP – FINAL – SATURDAY OCTOBER 5, 4pm.
LA DOLFINA SAUDI vs. LA NATIVIDAD
La Dolfina Saudi: Adolfo Cambiaso 10, David Stirling 10, Adolfo Cambiaso 10, Juan Martín Nero 10. Total: 40.
La Natividad: Facundo Pieres 10, Camilo Castagnola 10, Pablo Mac Donough 10, Bartolomé Castagnola Jr. 10. Total: 40.
Umpires: Gastón Lucero & Guillermo Villanueva.
Third man: José Ignacio Araya.
Ground Lewis Lacey, Hurlingham Club.