In an extraordinary championship match that took place at Tortugas Country Club, on Friday November 1, La Hache narrowly beat Ellerstina 14-13, and won the 84th. Tortugas Open, the second leg of the coveted Triple Corwn in Argentina. Following a very narrow contest, the win came through a remarkable goal produced by Tomás Panelo within the 30 additional seconds. Less than 24 hours away from the start of the 131st. Argentine Open, La Hache, Hilario Ulloa’s organisation, claimed their first ever title of the Triple Crown in Argentina.
No 40-goal lineup took part of this final (double title holders, La Natividad, and La Dolfina), but both La Hache and Ellerstina demonstrated to be up to the task, by playing a remarkable contest. Both teams displayed their best polo to the delight of the spectators, on a very hot spring afternoon at the Tortugas Country Club. And so narrow the game was, that it was decided within the additional thirty seconds.
La Hache and Ellerstina played a tough game and, with the exception of a scoreless third chukka, the two lineups exchanged the leadership and and the scoreboard read several ties. By half time, La Hache had a 7-5 lead, but Ellerstina outscored them 3-1 in the fifth chukka. They tied at 10-all in the sixth chukka, but a reinforced La Hache foursome dominated the seventh chukka – they extended their gap to two goals, courtesy of Hilario Ulloa and Tomás Panelo, and at the start of the eighth and last chukka, Fran Elizalde scored to widen the advantage to 13-10. But nothing’s done until is done. Sapo Caset – the final’s top scorer, with nine goals – and Lukin Monteverde replied quickly, for a new tie (13-13). And when many thought the match would end in an extra chukka, Tomás Panelo produced the winning goal within the 30 additional seconds to secure La Hache their first ever title of the Triple Crown, as well as his own personal and Fran Elizalde’s.
84th. TORTUGAS OPEN – FINAL – FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1
LA HACHE 14-13 ELLERSTINA
La Hache: Pablo Pieres 9 (5 goals, two penalties), Hilario Ulloa 9 (3), Francisco Elizalde 9 (2), Tomás Panelo 9 (4). Total: 36.
Ellerstina: Guillermo Caset 9 (9, five penalties, one Penalty 1), Lucas Monteverde Jr. 8 (1), Gonzalo Pieres Jr. 9 (1), Ignatius du Plessis 9 (2). Total: 35.
Score La Hache: 3-2, 4-5, 4-5, 7-5, 8-8, 10-10, 12-10, 14-13.
MVP: Tomás Panelo.
BPP: Jazz Fragata, ridden by Sapo Caset.
84th. Tortugas Open – Teams & Fixture
Cover photo by Matías Callejo.