Following a nailbiting and exciting contest, La Natividad claimed a last second 13-12 win over La Dolfina Saudi and ran out the champions of the 131st. Hurlingham Open Ayshire Cup, in the championship match that took place on Saturday October 5, at the Hurlingham Open club’s Lewis Lacey ground. Several spectactors enjoyed a thrilling contest, the highest level of polo delivered by both teams, in a game that was only decided in the last thirty seconds of play.
As everybody were aware, this final was the perfect match between two teams rated at the highest handicap – 40 each. The fifth official 80-goal match in history; only that the previous four were played between La Dolfina and Ellerstina. It’s historical, yes; but perhaps more on La Natividad’s side, because they were about to play their first ever official 80-goal final.
But of course it wouldn’t be easy at all. Let’s see what happened thoroghout eight tough chukkas. Poroto Cambiaso opened the scores in the first chukka, but La Natividad replied quickly, courtesy of Pablo MacDonough MacDonough who produced two unanswered goals. La Natividad closed the first chukka 2-1 ahead. The green jerseys dominated the scoreboards in the two following chukkas, while the then defending champions were struggling to get in the game. La Natividad played very solid, powerful, led by an outstanding Pablo MacDonough. By the end of the third chukka, La Natividad were leading by an impressive 7-2.
But slowly, La Dolfina Saudi managed to close the gap mostly through penalty conversions. They outscored La Natividad 4-1 in the third chukka, and by half time they were two goals behind. While Poroto Cambiaso produced one single goal in the fifth chukka, things would change dramatically in the sixth chukka.
Adolfo Cambiaso suffered a heavy fall that forced him to leave the field. The young 7-goaler, Gonzalo Ferrari, took his place. And he demonstrated to be up to the task, playing the match of his life – he scored the goal to close the gap to just one goal (8-9), followed by two more by Poroto Cambiaso and one by Juan Martín Nero, that secured La Dolfina Saudi their first lead – 11-9. The two last chukkas were incredibly challenging – in the seventh, Barto Castagnola produced the first goal for La Natividad in three chukkas, but La Dolfina Saudi replied quickly. And far from giving up, La Natividad fought back – thanks to Barto Castagnola and Facundo Pieres, they tied at 12-all with only one chukka left.
The match was already hotter than hell; with one minute remaining, the last chukka was still scoreless, something that made many think of two possibilities – the winner would emerge from the first team who score first, or an extra chukka. At the end of the day it was the former. With barely thirty seconds left in regulation time, a long, powerful shot by Facundo Pieres ended in the goal that gave La Natividad the 13-12 win and their second Hurlingham Open. But this time with some extra spice – they claimed the title after playing their first ever official 80-goal championship match.
131st. HURLINGHAM OPEN AYSHIRE CUP – FINAL – SATURDAY OCTOBER 5
LA NATIVIDAD 13-12 LA DOLFINA SAUDI
La Natividad: Facundo Pieres 10 (5 goals, three penalties), Camilo Castagnola 10 (2), Pablo Mac Donough 10 (3), Bartolomé Castagnola Jr. 10 (3). Total: 40.
La Dolfina Saudi: Adolfo Cambiaso 10* (1 penalty), David Stirling 10, Poroto Cambiaso 10 (6, three penalties), Juan Martín Nero 10 (2). Total: 40.
*Subbed in by Gonzalo Ferrari 7 (1 goal), in the sixth chukka, due to an injury.
Score La Natividad: 2-1, 4-2, 7-2, 9-6, 9-7, 9-11, 12-12, 13-12.
Umpires: Gastón Lucero & Guillermo Villanueva.
Third man: José Ignacio Araya.
MVP: Bartolomé Castagnola Jr.
BPP: Lovelocks Drogba, ridden by Bartolomé Castagnola Jr.
Fair Play Award: Juan Martín Nero.
Best Polo Argentino Bred, presented by the Argentine Polo Pony Breeders Assn.: Show Down, ridden by Bartolomé Cstagnola Jr.
131° Hurlingham Open – Fixture & Teams
Cover photo by Matías Callejo.