Argentina’s Triple Crown has a new twist. Ellerstina beat La Dolfina 12-11 in the final of the Abierto de Tortugas, the 79th edition of the tournament, bringing to an end La Dolfina’s run of six consecutive Tortugas titles and ending their chance of a Triple Crown this season.
Revenge after Hurlingham
The two teams had already met in the Hurlingham Open just days earlier, and La Dolfina had won that one 16-13, their tenth Hurlingham title. For Ellerstina, the Tortugas final was therefore a chance to take revenge, and they took it. The match was close and tense, and one goal separated the sides at the end.
La Dolfina lined up with the same four players who have played together for nine seasons: Adolfo Cambiaso, David Stirling, Pablo Mac Donough and Juan MartÃn Nero. The Hurlingham win had been their 28th Triple Crown title, including 12 Argentine Opens and the six straight Tortugas victories. Ellerstina, the Pieres family team, had to get past Las Monjitas to reach the decider.
- Tortugas final: Ellerstina 12, La Dolfina 11.
- Hurlingham Open: La Dolfina 16, Ellerstina 13.
- Next: the Argentine Open at Palermo in December.
What the result means
The Triple Crown, which is made up of the Tortugas Open, the Hurlingham Open and the Argentine Open at Palermo, is the toughest test in polo. To win all three in a single season a team has to stay at its best for weeks on end, which is why La Dolfina’s loss in the Tortugas final was so notable.
It does not necessarily change who the favourites are for Palermo. La Dolfina have won the Argentine Open for six years running, and a team that gets within one goal of winning a final is clearly still in top form. But Ellerstina have made their statement, and the Argentine Open, where the two teams are likely to meet again, now looks more open than it has for some time.
We will be following Palermo closely when it begins in a few weeks.
