Back home again. After a couple of matches played at the Argentine Association of Polo Headquarters, in Pilar, due to rains, the 86th. Tortugas Open went back to the Tortugas Country Club, to play the two games due on Tuesday October 21. Two matches with plenty of goals, that saw La Hache and La Irenita victorious.
The first contest saw La Hache against La Aguada. After an even start, with a 2-all in the first chukka, La Hache seized the reins and overwhelmed La Aguada for the remaining of the gam. Led by a merciless Benjamin Panelo, who was today on his ever best form, scoring goals from here there and everywhere (he ended up as the top scorer, 12). A merciless La Hache, who in addition to Benja’s remarkable goals, had their four players finding the flags, swept La Aguada with a very solid team play, with the two pair of brothers working like a perfectly oiled machine and playing better every game. They became a nightmare for La Aguada who were unable to trespass La Hache’s tough defense. La Hache outscored La Aguada 3-0 and 4-1 in the second and third, until, after a memorable fifth chukka, they widened their gap to ten goals (14-4) by half time.
The second part was not that different; only that La Hache were even more determined to do things their way. An unstopabble foursome, who kept sweeping over their contenders, especially in a remarkable sixth chukka, when they left the deal almost said and done; with two chukkas left, La Hache had an impressive 24-6 advantage.
In the last chukka, Joaquín Panelo subbed in for his brother Tomás, who had some symptoms of flu; but that was all. Despite La Aguada was awarded a Penalty 1, Hilario Ulloa put the icing on the cake for La Hache who closed a match for the history books. Not only they won by a terrific 30-11, but the game became one of the highest scorers in history, with a total of 41 goals produced.
La Irenita and Hiper played the follow-up, in Tortugas. A much expected game between two very good teams, who were seeking to recover after losing their respective previous games. The first two chukkas saw Hiper leading, while La Irenita remained on their tail, until they took the lead in the third (7-6), thanks to a goal produced by Vizcacha MacDonough, who played a remarkable fourth chukka. While Gonzalo Ferrari scored for Hiper, Vizcacha seized the reins and found the flags four times to secure La Irenita a 11-7 advantage by half time.
OK, it was expected an even match, but from then onwards, the contest belonged to La Irenita. In the fifth Vizcacha added two more goals and his uncle, Pablo one, after receiving a pass from Polito Pieres. Teo Lacau and Gonza Ferrari scored for Hiper, but La Irenita still maintained a considerable gap, 14-9. Furthermore, they left Hiper scoreless in the sixth chukka, and extended the lead to 16-9.
Slowly, Hiper did their best to try to overcome the result; following goals by Vizcacha and Polito, Hiper tried to keep their hopes alive, and managed to produce three, courtesy of Torito Ruiz, Fran Elizalde and Gonza Ferrari. Still, and with only one chukka left, La Irenita were 18-12 up; that until Paco de Narvaez scored to leave the deal almost said and done by Paco de Narvaez (19-12).
After Vizcacha MacDonough converted a 30-yards penalty, La Irenita reached a 20-13 lead; with the clock running fast, it seemed that the only thing Hiper could do was to add a couple of goals to soften the result, which was exactly what Torito Ruiz and Gonza Ferrari did, but not before a remarkable backward goal by Polito Pieres to secure a very important 21-14 victory for La Irenita, their second in the Tortugas Open.
THE 86th. TORTUGAS OPEN WILL CONTINUE ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 24, WITH THE FOLLOWING ORDER OF PLAY:
1pm: Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu vs. Don Ercole
4pm: La Natividad La Dolfina vs. La Ensenada
THE FINAL OF THE 86th. TORTUGAS OPEN IS SET TO BE PLAYED ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 7.