Mon 17th Oct 2016La Dolfina DominateEllerstina Fail to Break the Winning Streak On Sunday 16 October the 10 goal quartet of La Dolfina once again triumphed against Ellerstina to take the first title of the Argentine Triple Crown, winning The Tortugas Open. The Final was a match to remember as the eight polo players played an open game. The final score of 18-12 was only made up of seven penalty goals, with the remainder coming from the field with no more than 15 minutes of play between goals, evidence that the change in approach to play and umpiring is opening up the game at this level. Ellerstina opened the scoring in the first few seconds of the game thanks to Pablo Pieres, but Adolfo Cambiaso answered the challenge with not one, but two consecutive goals followed by Pablo MacDonough to end the first chukka in the lead for La Dolfina. Brothers Gonzalito and Facundo tied the game in the second chukka with a goal each before Facundo sent home a 30 yard penalty. Cambiaso tied the second chukka scores with just seven seconds left before the second bell. As the chukkas progressed the wind in the Ellerstina sales seemed to ebb, the Pieres team peaked at half-time having scored 10 goals, only managing a further two in the second half. La Dolfina relentlessly ploughed on. The impassable wall of defence from Juan Martín Nero and Cambiaso’s attacking drive and cloned pony power proved too much for the Pieres family on this occasion. La Dolfina have now achieved 36 consecutive wins in their Triple Crown campaign. Adolfo Cambiaso’s mare Cuartetera Clone 6 was awarded the Best Playing Pony Award for the Final. Tortugas Open Final teams: La Dolfina (40): Adolfo Cambiaso (10), David Stirling (10), Pablo Mac Donough (10) & Juan Martín Nero (10) Ellerstina (39): Facundo Pieres (10, Pablo Pieres (10), Gonzalo Pieres (10) & Nicolás Pieres 9 Result: 3-1, 4-4, 8-6, 11-10, 14-11, 16-11, 18-12 to La Dolfina Photograph: La Dolfina with the Copa Emilio de Anchorena for The Tortugas Open. By ©www.imagesofpolo.com/ Eduardo Grunberg |