Double title holders, La Natividad, and Cría La Dolfina earned significant victories in the start of the 84th. Tortugas Open, the second leg of the coveted Triple Crown in Argentina, in the first matchdate that took place at Tortugas Country Club on Saturday October 12. The tournament sees eight teams up to 40 goals, in participation.

In the opening contest, La Natividad overwhelmed Indios Chapaleufu with an impressive 15-4 win. Apart from the twelve goals produced by the indomitable Jeta Castagnola, La Natividad played with a remarkable accuracy, that left the deal said and done already in the fourth chukka, when they were 12-1 ahead. At the end of the day, there was nothing Indios Chapaleufu could do over their powerful contenders.

The second match was a completely different story. Cría La Dolfina and Ellerstina played a very good game, hard fought and very tight, that saw both teams exchanging the lead several times. However, halfway the fourth chukka, Ellerstina, led by Sapo Caset, who scored eleven goals, claimed a four goal advantage, but Cría La Dolfina replied quickly, when they outscored La Z 4-0 in the fifth chukka. By the start of the eighth and last chukka, the Cañuelas-based foursome were two goals ahead, 16-14. The last chukka was literally a battlefield; and despite Ellerstina outscored Cría La Dolfina 3-2, the efforts didn’t pay off. Cría La Dolfina were victorious 18-17 in their debut in the Tortugas Open.

The 84th. Tortugas Open will resume on Sunday October 13, with the following order of play:

1,30pm: La Dolfina Saudi vs. La Hache Cría & Polo

4pm: La Hache vs. La Ensenada

The final of the 84th. Tortugas Open is set to be played on Saturday November 2.

84th. Tortugas Open – Teams & Fixture

Cover photo by Matías Callejo.