The Argentine Triple Crown is under way, and La Dolfina have taken the first leg. On Saturday 17 October they beat Ellerstina 11-9 in the final of the Tortugas Open at the Tortugas Country Club, collecting the Copa Emilio de Anchorena. Adolfo Cambiaso scored 10 of his team’s 11 goals.
The Triple Crown in brief
Argentine high-goal polo is built around three tournaments played in sequence: the Tortugas Open, the Hurlingham Open and the Argentine Open at Palermo. The Tortugas Open is the first and the one that sets the tone for the rest of the season, so for La Dolfina and their rivals the result here matters more than the trophy itself.
The final
La Dolfina fielded their usual 40-goal side, with Cambiaso leading the way. Ellerstina came with the Pieres family, a quartet that regularly appears in these finals. The match followed the pattern of the two teams’ recent meetings: even, and with the result uncertain for much of the game. It was in the closing stages that La Dolfina pulled away.
The outcome, and especially Cambiaso’s contribution, is a reminder of what makes this team so difficult to beat. Ten goals from one player in a high-goal final against the best opposition in the world is an extraordinary tally, and it came on a day when the match was far from a procession.
- Score: La Dolfina 11, Ellerstina 9.
- Top scorer: Adolfo Cambiaso, 10 goals.
- Trophy: Copa Emilio de Anchorena.
What it means
La Dolfina, who won the Triple Crown in each of the previous two seasons, now have the first piece of a third straight sweep, something no team has achieved. Ellerstina, who have been runners-up to them in these finals, must find a way to turn their strength into a win if they are to stop it.
With the Hurlingham Open to come next, the question is whether anyone can break the pattern. We will be watching Facundo Pieres and his brothers closely to see how they respond.
Sources: Caras
