Polo Titans La Dolfina Win Again
- By Richard Hine
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- 09 Oct, 2017
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It’s five years on the trot the 40 goal giants
After one of the most controversial beginnings to an Argentine tournament in recent history, the sun shone brightly on Palermo Ground 1 for the Final of the Tortugas Open Final. Last week, the AAP took the decision to move the Final of the tournament to Palermo, from its usual home Tortugas Polo Club, after a series of match cancellations due to poor weather. Coincidentally, the Semi Finals were cancelled due to rain, but the AAP and Tortugas agreed to end the tournament on the scheduled date, taking the teams’ points into account. 7,000 people turned up at the Buenos Aires home of polo to watch the two teams of titans take to the field.
After an exceedingly close first chukka, ending 1-1, La Dolfina stepped up a gear outplaying and outscoring the Ellerstina side. Wherever Ellerstina gave an inch, La Dolfina took a mile, racking up goal after goal, proving that their game plan was watertight. As the final bell sounded in the seventh chukka, the roar went up from the La Dolfina lines as their team rode home with a 12-5 win. This win marked the fifth consecutive Tortugas win for Cambiaso’s team and a milestone for Pablo MacDonough, who lifted the enormous silver trophy for the tenth time. He is now only one title away from Alberto Heguy’s record 11 wins. Cambiaso’s CloneCuartetera 05 was awarded the Best Playing Pony Award.
La Dolfina has started the Argentine season with a bang, winning the San Jorge Open, the Jockey Club Open and now the Tortugas. With the Hurlingham Open having started this weekend, the teams will now turn their attention to the second instalment of the 2017 Triple Crown. In 2016, Ellerstina came out victorious, beating La Dolfina in the final throws of the match. Perhaps they can repeat the triumph this year?
The Tortugas Open Final Teams:
La Dolfina (40): Adolfo Cambiaso (10), David ‘Pelon’ Stirling (10), Pablo MacDonough (10) & Juan Martín Nero (10)
Ellerstina (39): Polito Pieres (9), Gonzalito Pieres (10), Facundo Pieres (10) & Nicolás Pieres (10)
Photograph: La Dolfina notch up their fifth consecutive Tortugas Open win in Argentina. By ©www.imagesofpolo.com
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