Tue 3rd Nov 2020Both La Dolfina Teams to Contend Semi FinalsSecond day of Tortugas Open action
Yesterday, Monday 2 November, the first phase of The Triple Crown – The Tortugas Open – continued at the Alfredo Lalor Headquarters of the Argentine Polo Association, in Pilar. The first match of the day saw La Dolfina Saudi face La Ensenada/La Aguada, with all eyes on Poroto Cambiaso as the youngest player to compete in The Triple Crown at just 14-years-old. As the pundits had expected, La Dolfina Saudi led from the outset, but they were hit by another stroke of bad luck as David ‘Pelón’ Stirling suffered an injury and had to be replaced by Tomás Fernández Llorente (7 goals) in the fourth chukka; this is the third player the team has lost due to injury with Juan Martín Nero and Pablo MacDonough also out of action due to injury. However, La Dolfina Saudi didn’t let this phase them and continued to secure themselves a 13-4 win and with it a place in the Semi Final on Friday 6 November; Caña Monjita Coronada (Dolfina Cuarteto x Chapaleufú Tapera), played by Adolfo Cambiaso, was chosen as the Best Playing Pony Polo Argentino. The second match of the day saw the second team from Cañuelas, La Dolfina Polo Ranch, against Los Machitos. Mariano Aguerre once again donned the Los Machitos shirt after a three year absence (although he had to be replaced by his nephew Martín Aguerre at the end of the fourth chukka due to injury), while La Dolfina Polo Ranch are the only team who have the same line-up as in 2019. The fourth Quarter Final of The Tortugas Open was fiercely competed for, with the Copa Emilio de Anchorena up for grabs, and this was reflected in the number of fouls which blemished the match, with Agustín Merlos having to leave the field for two minutes in the sixth chukka after receiving his second yellow card. La Dolfina Polo Ranch dominated the match from the outset and managed to secure themselves a 12-6 win and their place in the Semi Finals. The results of these matches mean that the Semi Finals are now set: Thursday 5 November: Ellerstina vs RS Murus Sanctus Friday 6 November: La Dolfina Saudi vs La Dolfina Polo Ranch Additionally, the Subsidiary Semi Finals for the Copa Sarmiento will be as follows: Thursday 5 November: La Irenita vs La Natividad/Las Monjitas Friday 6 November: La Ensenada/La Aguada vs Los Machitos Photograph: La Dolfina Polo Ranch defeated Los Machitos to take their place in the Semi Finals. By Matias Callejo/AAP |