After the delay due to heavy rains, La Natividad La Dolfina claimed a narrow 12-11 win over Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu and won the 85th. Tortugas Open, in an epic final, that secured them their second title of the current Triple Crown in Argentina, only a couple of days before the start of the 132nd. Argentine Polo Open Championship, at Palermo. The Tortugas Open final took place on Thursday October 30, at the Tortugas Country Club.
It’s very interesting to note that this contest was a sort of the comeback of the derby between La Dolfina and Ellerstina, although under different circumstances. As we all are aware, La Dolfina is now La Natividad La Dolfina, meaning that the two Cañuelas-based organisations have merged into one. The lineup is made of the two Cambiasos, father and son (Adolfo and Poroto) and the two Castagnola brothers (Barto and Jeta). It’s the same with Ellerstina, currently Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu, when the two Pieres brothers, Gonzalito and Facundo (with the latter back home after a couple of seasons with La Natividad) joined forces with the Heguy cousins, Cruz and Antonio (the sons of the legendary Pepe and Ruso Heguy, respectively). So, both teams are a mix of the most remarkable names in polo, experience and youth, in addition, of course, to several titles in the Triple Crown, as well as three young guns – Poroto, Antonio and Cruz – who were in search of their first Tortugas Open win.
The match got off to a very good start, with Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu’s solid on the attack, but struggling to find the flags. Eventually, it was La Natividad La Dolfina who opened the scores, through Barto Castagnola, who secured the 1-0 at the end of the first episode. The second chukka belonged to the Cañuelas boys; although Gonzalito Pieres produced a goal for Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu, Poroto Cambiaso (2) and Barto Castagnola widened La Dolfina La Natividad’s advantage to three goals (4-1). However, in the two next chukkas, Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu made an impressive comeback – they tied at 4-all and in the fourth chukka, Facundo Pieres converted a 30-yards penalty. That meant that the Pieres-Heguy lineup stepped into half time 6-5 up.
The second half was not different at all – both teams played a very close contest, exchanging the leadership and producing several ties; it was anyone’s game. But after consecutive ties in the fifth and sixth chukkas (7-7 and 8-8, respectively), luck was on La Dolfina La Natividad’s side. Three unanswered goals, courtesy of Poroto Cambiaso and Jeta Castagnola (2) earned them a two goal lead (11-9) with only one chukka left. In the last chukka, La Natividad La Dolfina tighened their defense to maintain their advantage in the last chukka, while Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu fought hard to overturn the scores; that’s until Jeta Castagnola came up to secure the 12-9 lead. Things seemed to be said and done, but a determined Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu foursome had another ideas in mind. Antonio and Cruz Heguy kept their team’s hopes alive, through one goal each, to close the gap to one goal – 11-12, with a minute on the clock. At the end of the day, efforts didn’t pay off; after eight remarkable chukkas, La Natividad La Dolfina were victorious and claimed their second title of the current Triple Crown in Argentina. And, by the way, Poroto won his first Tortugas Open.
Beyond the result, which was very tight indeed, it’s fair to say that La Natividad La Dolfina delivered a remarkable peformance;a delight for everyone to see, while waiting for what’s just around the corner – Palermo.
85th. TORTUGAS OPEN – FINAL – THURSDAY OCTOBER 30
LA NATIVIDAD LA DOLFINA 12-11 ELLERSTINA INDIOS CHAPALEUFU
La Natividad La Dolfina: Camilo Castagnola 10 (4 goals), Poroto Cambiaso 10 (4, 2 penalties), Adolfo Cambiaso 10, Bartolomé Castagnola Jr. 10 (4, 1 on Penalty 1). Total: 40.
Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu: Facundo Pieres 10 (5, 1 penalty), Antonio Heguy 8 (2), Gonzalo Pieres Jr. 9 (3), Cruz Heguy 9 (1 on Penalty 1). Total: 36.
Score La Natividad La Dolfina: 1-0, 4-1, 4-4, 5-6, 7-7, 8-8, 11-9, 12-11.
Umpires: Gastón Lucero &Guillermo Villanueva.
Third man: Matías Baibiene.
Francisco E. Dorignac MVP Award: Antonio Heguy.
BPP presented by the Argentine Association of Polo: Show Down, ridden by Barto Castagnola.
Best Polo Argentino Bred, presented by the Argentine Polo Pony Breeders Assn.: Guadalupe Lady Jane, ridden by Poroto Cambiaso.
85th. TORTUGAS OPEN – Teams & Fixture
Cover photo by Matías Callejo/Prensa AAP.