The Argentine high-goal season is under way, and La Dolfina have started it the way they ended the last one. They beat Ellerstina 14-8 in the Tortugas Open final, the first leg of the Triple Crown, and retained the trophy they won in 2013.
The road to the final
The tournament ran from 23 September at the Tortugas Country Club in Pilar, with two leagues. League A held La Dolfina, La Aguada and Magual, while Ellerstina, Alegria and La Aguada/Las Monjitas made up League B. The two highest-rated teams, La Dolfina at 40 goals and Ellerstina at 38, did not meet until the weekend of the later rounds.
Ellerstina reached the final by beating Alegria 13-10 in their semi-final, setting up a meeting with the defending champions in the final.
How the final went
La Dolfina lined up with Adolfo Cambiaso, David Stirling, Pablo MacDonough and Juan Martin Nero. Ellerstina played Facundo Pieres, Gonzalito Pieres, Nico Pieres and Mariano Aguerre. The final was played on Field 7 at Tortugas.
La Dolfina made a flying start, scoring three goals without reply in the first chukker, and led 4-2 after two. By the end of the fourth they were 8-3 clear. Ellerstina nibbled away in the later chukkers, but La Dolfina answered each time, reached 11-6 and closed it out at 14-8.
- Adolfo Cambiaso: eight goals, seven of them from penalty shots.
- Result: La Dolfina 14, Ellerstina 8.
- Next up: the Hurlingham Open, which began later that week.
Cambiaso’s accuracy from the penalty spot is the story of this game. When a final is full of fouls, the player who converts almost every free hit builds a lead the opposition struggles to chase.
What it means for the Triple Crown
The Tortugas Open is the first of three legs, followed by the Hurlingham Open and the Argentine Open at Palermo. La Dolfina have taken the early lead in the contest for the sweep, and Ellerstina will be eager to turn the tables at Hurlingham. We will be following the second leg with interest.
Sources: ESPN Argentina, Horse Times, POLO Magazine
