On Sunday, October 2, Ellerstina claimed a thrilling 11-9 win over Cría La Dolfina to secure a spot in the final of the 82nd Tortugas Open, the first leg of the coveted Triple Crown in Argentina. The tournament, currently underway at Tortugas Country Club, sees eight teams, between 29 and 39 goals, compete.
Ellerstina’s victory means that the Pieres brothers and Hilario Ulloa will take on La Natividad on Saturday, October 8, in the organization’s sixteenth consecutive final in Tortugas.
Cría La Dolfina, with Guillermo Terrera back in the saddle after missing the quarter final due to an injury, fought hard against current title holders Ellerstina, who had to work hard in order keep their opponents at bay. The score was 2-all after the first chukka, but the General Rodriguez-based team took the lead in the second. They weren’t able to widen their advantage too much – the difference was never more than two goals (in favour of Ellerstina). Led by their top scorer, Diego Cavanagh, who was successful with his penalty conversions, Cria La Dolfina proved to be a tough contender for Ellerstina.
In the fifth chukka, Cría La Dolfina outscored Ellerstina 2-1 to stand only one goal behind (8-9), and in the last minute of the sixth chukka, Diego Cavanagh successfully converted a 30-yard penalty, to tie the game 9-all. It was a thrilling last chukka, but at the end of the day, Ellerstina managed to take control and hold Cria La Dolfina back. They scored crucial goals in the last minutes of play, with a remarkable field goal by Hilario Ulloa and a 30-yard penalty converted by Facundo Pieres. Ellerstina overcame a tough challenge indeed, and they now aim to retain their title next Saturday against La Natividad.
Prior to the main semifinal, two of the three La Irenita lineups currently playing the Triple Crown, clashed in the second semifinal of the Subsidiary Sarmiento Cup. La Irenita Grand Champions claimed a hard fought 18-16.5 victory over La Irenita GSquared (received 8.5 goal on handicap). Pablo Mac Donough’s team will go head-to-head against La Ensenada RS Murus Sanctus on Friday, October 7.
82° TORTUGAS OPEN – SEMIFINALS #2 – SUNDAY OCTOBER 2
- SEMIFINAL – SUBSDIARY SARMIENTO CUP
La Irenita Grand Champions: Juan Britos 9 (9 goals, 8 penalties), Francisco Elizalde 9 (2), Pablo Mac Donough 10 (5, 1 penalty), Juan Martín Zubía 8 (2). Total: 36.
La Irenita Gsquared: Santiago Loza 8 (3 goals), Segundo Bocchino 7 (2), Martín Podestá 7, Felipe Dabas 7 (3, 2 de penal) . Total: 29.
Score La Irenita Grand Champions: (0-8.5) 3-8.5, 5-9.5, 7-9.5, 10-11.5, 13-13.5, 15-15.5, 18-16.5.
Umpires: Gonzalo López Vargas & Rafael Silva.
Third man: Hernán Tasso.
- SEMIFINAL EMILIO DE ANCHORENA CUP
ELLERSTINA 11-9 CRIA LA DOLFINA
Ellerstina: Facundo Pieres 10 (6 goals, 4 penalties), Hilario Ulloa 9 (2), Gonzalo Pieres Jr. 9 (3), Nicolás Pieres 10. Total: 38.
Cría La Dolfina: Guillermo Terrera 9 (2), Tomás Panelo 8 (1), Diego Cavanagh 8 (6, 5 penalties), Alejo Taranco 8 . Total: 33.
Score Ellerstina: 2-2, 5-4, 7-5, 8-6, 9-8, 9-9, 11-9.
Umpires: Gastón Lucero & José I. Araya.
Third man: Guillermo Villanueva.
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82nd Tortugas Open – Semifinals #2
La Natividad and Ellerstina will play the final of the 82nd Tortugas Open on Saturday, October 8, at 4pm.