The zone stage of the Tortugas Open is complete, and the final looks set to feature the two teams who won all their matches. La Natividad La Dolfina topped Zone A with a clean sweep, and Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufú did the same in a much tighter Zone B.
Zone A: La Natividad La Dolfina dominate
The favourites beat Sol de Agosto 22-12 on the opening day, then La Irenita La Hache 22-8 on 14 October and Los Machitos El Refugio 23-7 on 18 October. Los Machitos had beaten La Irenita 15-14 in their opener, and Sol de Agosto beat La Irenita 19-13 on 18 October.
- La Natividad La Dolfina 22, Sol de Agosto 12
- Los Machitos El Refugio 15, La Irenita La Hache 14
- La Natividad La Dolfina 22, La Irenita La Hache 8
- Sol de Agosto 19, La Irenita La Hache 13
- La Natividad La Dolfina 23, Los Machitos El Refugio 7
Zone B: Ellerstina by a whisker
Zone B was far closer. Ellerstina won all three of their matches: 16-15 against La Ensenada, 17-7 against La Hache Cría y Polo and 14-12 against UAE Polo on Sunday. UAE Polo, who lost only to Ellerstina, beat La Hache Cría y Polo 18-12 and La Ensenada 15-14. La Ensenada ended with a 18-13 win over La Hache Cría y Polo.
- UAE Polo 18, La Hache Cría y Polo 12
- Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufú 16, La Ensenada 15
- Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufú 17, La Hache Cría y Polo 7
- UAE Polo 15, La Ensenada 14
- La Ensenada 18, La Hache Cría y Polo 13
- Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufú 14, UAE Polo 12
What comes next
La Natividad La Dolfina won the Hurlingham Open on 4 October, beating UAE Polo 12-9, and they will be strong favourites to add Tortugas. Ellerstina, who lost to La Natividad La Dolfina 13-12 in the Hurlingham semi-finals, will want revenge. A rematch of that tight semi-final in the Tortugas final would be a treat.
The Tortugas Open is the second leg of the Triple Crown and the 85th edition of the tournament. The Argentine Open in Palermo is the third and last. A team that wins all three completes the Triple Crown, and La Natividad La Dolfina already have the Hurlingham Open in the bag and have a final still to play. We will bring you the result when it is decided.
