Less than a week of the start of the 131st. Argentine Polo Open Championship, the culminating moment of the polo season in Argentina, the finalists of the 84th. Tortugas Open have been revealed, on Sunday October 27. Ellerstina and La Hache are due to play the championship match of the second leg of the much coveted Argentine Triple Crown.
La Natividad and Cría La Dolfina opened fire. With La Natividad out of the contest, Cría La Dolfina needed a win to advance to the final; otherwise, the spot would be Ellerstina’s. The match saw leveled scores in the first three chukkas, until La Natividad seized the reins in the fourth chukka, and remained under command for the remaining of the game, most likely to play at their best with their eyes set on defending their title at the Argentine Open. Once again, the indomitable Jeta Castagnola was La Natividad’s leading man, while Bautista Bayugar produced all the goals for Cría La Dolfina. At the end of the day, La Natividad earned an impressive 21-9 victory.
Ellerstina’s contenders in the decisive game would emerge from the following game, between La Hache and La Dolfina Saudi. The latter had Adolfo Cambiaso back on the saddle after an absence due to an injury, while Polito Pieres’ La Hache, who developed stomach problems, had to be subbed in by the young and talented Lorenzo Chavanne. It’s worth to notice that La Dolfina Saudi needed to win for two goals or more to advance to the final. Although the Cañuelas-based lineup presented a tough battle, remaining in the lead thoroghout five chukkas, the scores were on La Hache’s side, since La Dolfina Saudi were not able to get that two goal difference they needed so bad. Following a 8-all at the end of the sixth chukka, La Hache took the lead in the seventh, but La Dolfina Saudi never gave up – in a hotter than hell last chukka, the Cambiaso father-son duo produced four unanswered goals (Adolfo 3, Poroto 1) that put La Dolfina Saudi 12-10 ahead, a result that eventually led them to the final. When all seemed said and done and within 40 seconds in regulation time, Lorenzo Chavanne, in his debut in the Triple Crown, picked the ball and scored the definitive goal. La Dolfina Saudi won 12-11, but despite the loss, it’s La Hache who will clash against Ellerstina for the second title of the Triple Crown.
Ellerstina and La Hache will go head-to-head for the 84th. Tortugas Open on Friday November 1.
84th. Tortugas Open – Teams & Fixture
Cover photo by Matías Callejo.