The two last League B games of the 85th. Tortugas Open, took place on Wednesday October 15, at the Tortugas Country Club, with Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu and La Ensenada victorious. It’s worth to notice that the finalists will be revealed on the next weekend.
Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu and La Hache Cría & Polo opened fire, with some big news on both sides. Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu had Antonio Heguy back on the saddle, who is recovered from an injury on a knee (he has been subbed in by by Lorenzo Chavanne). With regards to La Hache Cría & Polo, they hired Héctor Guerrero as their coach.
The contest featured two very different halves – the first four chukkas were very even, very close, and it’s worth to note La Hache Cría & Polo improvement, after their disastrous loss to La Natividad La Dolfina and UAE; moreover, the match saw today the team’s two powerful scorers, Joaquín Pittaluga and Bautista Bayugar. The former produced the goal that tied the match at 6-all by half time. But that was it – halfway in the fifth chukka, Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu seized the reins and widened their advantage to 11-6. In the seventh chukka, they left the deal almost said and done, when they outscored La Hache Cría & Polo 4-0, and the scoreboard read a 16-7 advantage. Antonio Heguy produced a single goal in the last chukka that marked the 17-7 win for Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu, who is eligible to fight for a spot in the final next Sunday.
UAE and La Ensenada came up next. There were much expectation about this match, due to what both teams have done in their previous games. And as expected, it ended up being a very tight, hard fought contest. And although UAE showcased their usual team play, La Ensenada were ready to present battle, led by the young and talented Rufino Bensadon, who delivered a formidable performance thoroghout the eight chukkas of play. The match was so close that by half time they were tied at 8-all; simply, it was anyone’s game.
The second half was as close and tight as the first; La Ensenada managed to hold on to the lead – however by a gap that never went further than one or two goals, but UAE remained on their tail. Rufino Bensadon and Gonzalo Ferrari scored one goal each to send La Ensenada 14-12 up in the seventh chukka, but Polito Pieres soon converted a 60-yards penalty to close the gap to one goal. In the last chukka, Juan Martín Nero tied again (14-14), but La Ensenada didn’t think of an eventual extra chukka – at the end of the day, Juan Britos scored the winning goal to seal an epic win, which meant that three teams are eligible to get through the final within League B.
HOW WILL LEAGUE B BE DECIDED?
The win against UAE, left La Ensenada with chances to get through the final. In order to achieve it, they must win their match against La Hache Cría & Polo, and then wait for UAE to defeat Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu by one goal and score 14 goals or less.
Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu are in the most favourable position due to their undefeated status; if they beat UAE and even losing by one goal but scoring 14 or more, they will advance to the final. In the meantime, UAE is obliged to win for two or more goals to qualify to the final.
Last but not least, if La Hache Cría & Polo defeats La Ensenada, the contest between UAE and Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu will be considered a semifinal, with the winner qualifying to the championship match.
The league stage of the 85th. Tortugas Open will come to an end on the next weekend, as follows:
- SATURDAY OCTOBER 18
- LEAGUE A
1pm La Irenita La Hache vs. Sol de Agosto
4pm: La Natividad La Dolfina vs. Los Machitos
- SUNDAY OCTOBER 19
- LEAGUE B
1pm: La Ensenada vs. La Hache Cría & Polo
4pm: Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu vs. UAE
THE FINAL OF THE 85th. TORTUGAS OPEN WILL BE PLAYED ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 25.
85th. TORTUGAS OPEN – Teams & Fixture
Cover photo by Matías Callejo/Prensa AAP.