Monterosso claimed a narrow 11-10 victory over El Milagro to win the Julio Novillo Astrada Cup, which was presented by Río Uruguay Seguros. The final took place on Thursday, November 10, at La Aguada Polo Club, in Open Door, Argentina.
Monterosso and El Milagro played a very hard fought match. Alessandro Bazzoni’s lineup got off to a better start, closing the first chukka with a 4-2 lead, but by half time, El Milagro tied the game 5-all. A remarkable fourth chukka followed, as El Milagro produced three consecutive goals, courtesy of Santiago Solari (2) and a penalty conversion by Benjamin Panelo, to claim a 8-5 advantage. Monterosso bounced back to close gap down to one goal, thansk to conversions by Cubi Toccalino and Antonio Heguy. El Milagro replied quickly to re-take their two goal lead, until Guillermo Caset converted a 60-yard penalty. At the end of a thrilling fourth chukka, Monterosso was only trailing by one goal (8-9).
Guillermo Caset and Antonio Heguy scored in the fifth chukka to put Monterosso 10-9 up, but at the start of the sixth chukka, Tomás Panelo tiedthe game 10-all. With only a minute left to play in regulation time, Guillermo Caset scored a spectacular goal to secure Monterosso’s 11-10 win and the title.
In other news, Subsidiary I went to Vikings after their 11-6 win over Forbes Plunkett, while La Loma took the Subsidiary II after defeating Global Port 10-9.
The 2022 edition of the Julio Novillo Astrada Cup, which ran from November 3-10, saw six teams, up to 22 goals, compete, in lineups composed by professional players and patrons from all over the world. The Julio Novillo Astrada Cup, established in 2004, is the flagship tournament of the Novillo Astrada family club, a tribute to La Aguada’s founder, Don Julio Novillo Astrada, who is fondly remembered as Iaio.
THE FINAL OF THE JULIO NOVILLO ASTRADA CUP WAS STREAMED LIVE ON POLOLINE TV.
JULIO NOVILLO ASTRADA CUP – FINALS – THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10:
Subsidiary II:
La Loma 10 vs Global Port 9
Subsidiary I:
Vikings 11 vs Forbes Plunkett 6
FINAL – JULIO NOVILLO ASTRADA CUP:
Monterosso 11 vs El Milagro 10
Score Monterosso: 2-1, 4-2, 5-5, 8-9, 10-9, 11-10.
MVP: Ignacio Toccalino
Premio River Slaney al BPP: Principio Polenta, ridden by Tomás Panelo.
Best Polo Argentino Bred, presented by the Argentine Polo Pony Breeders Assn.: Jazz Iluminada, Santiago Blaquier breeding, ridden by Guillermo Caset.
Best Mounted Player: Alessandro Bazzoni.
Skeeter Johnston Fair Play Award: Antonio Heguy.
JULIO NOVILLO ASTRADA CUP – TEAMS:
LEAGUE A
LA LOMA: Lorenzo Mortilla 3** , Tomás Pistone 5, Julio Novillo Astrada 7, Alejandro Novillo Astrada 7. Total: 22. *
FORBES PLUNKETT: Brandon W. Plunket 0, Kristos Magrini 5, Juan Britos 9, Miguel Novillo Astrada 8. Total: 22.
EL MILAGRO: Federico Tomasevich 1, Benjamin Panelo 6, Tomás Panelo 8, Santiago Solari 6. Total: 21.
* Formerly known as La Aguada.
**Subbed in for Quinn Evans
LEAGUE B
VIKINGS: Siri Evejemo-Nysveen 0, James Beim 6, Diego Cavanagh 8, Juan Martín Zubía 8. Total: 22.
GLOBAL PORT: Mikee Romero 0, 2. Mariano Obregon 6, Facundo Obregon 7, Anthony Garcia 5. Total: 18.
MONTEROSSO: Alessandro Bazzoni 0, Antonio Heguy 5, Guillermo Caset 9, Ignacio Toccalino 8.Total: 22.
JULIO NOVILLO ASTRADA CUP – FIXTURE
Thursday, November 3:
2pm: La Loma vs. Vikings
4pm: El Milagro vs. Monterosso
4,30pm: Forbes Plunkett vs. Global Port
Saturday, November 5:
10am: El Milagro vs Global Port
12pm: Forbes Plunkett Vs Vikings
Sunday, November 6:
10am: La Loma vs. Monterosso
Tuesday, November 8:
2pm: La Loma vs Global Port
4pm: Monterosso vs Forbes Plunkett
4pm: Vikings vs El Milagro
COVER PHOTO BY ADRIAN MELO.