La Dolfina Saudi have a contender for the much anticipated final of the 128th Argentine Open, at Palermo: La Natividad. The team defeated RS Murus Sanctus 17-14 in the League B decider on Sunday, December 5, at Palermo’s number one. The victory secured their place in the tournament final, set to be played on Saturday, December 11.

 

It will be an extraordinary final. La Dolfina Saudi’s has played every final since 2000 (except for the 2004 final), but this will be the first time two Cañuelas-based organisations go head to head. The final willbe particularly notable as La Dolfina’s Adolfo Cambiaso will be facing his nephews, La Natividad’s Barto and Jeta Castagnola.

 

On Sunday, Alegria and Chapaleufu also went head to head, in a match that saw Fred Mannix’s team claim a 14-12 win. Consequently, Alegria will play the playoff against the winners of the Cámara de Diputados Cup. The winner will qualify for the 2022 Triple Crown. La Irenita, on the other hand, qualified for next year’s Triple Crown, finishing seventh in the rankings. Chapaleufu, however, will have to play the qualification tournament.

 

Then RS Murus Sanctus took on La Natividad for a spot in the biggest final of the year. RS Murus Sanctus got off to a better start, securing an early  advantage (2-0), but La Natividad replied quickly with two goals, closing the first chukka 2-all. Halfway into the third, RS Murus Sanctus, led by Sapo Caset’s powerful skills, secured a 7-3 advantage. The Castagnola brothers bounced back, and by half time, they were leading 9-8, thanks to a third consecutive goal scored by Jeta Castagnola in the fourth.

 

From then onwards, La Natividad gave a brilliant performance, with Jeta Castagnola and Polito Pieres complementing each other perfectly, scoring a total of 14 goals between the two of them. La Natividad secured a 12-10 lead in the sixth chukka, and in the seventh, they outscored RS Murus Sanctus 4-0, taking the score to 16-10 with only one chukka left to play. RS Murus Sanctus fought back as Sapo Caset and Pablo MacDonough scored, but La Natividad never let up. With less than two minutes on the clock, Polito Pieres scored to widen the advantage to 17-13. Sapo Caset converted once again, but was too little too late.

 

Jeta Castagnola was a lethal weapon in attack, and Barto Castagnola was the brains behind every crucial moment. Polito Pieres is arguably playing the best he ever has, and Nachi du Plessis is a solid back. That is La Natividad – a brilliant team, who have reached the big leagues not only because the remarkable talent of its players, but also through a lot of work, dedication, encouragement, and most importantly, values of the sport. Now they will be playing the most important final in the world of polo, against a powerful La Dolfina.

 

  • ARGENTINE OPEN – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5 – PALERMO

Alegria 14-12 Chapaleufu

Alegría: Agustín Merlos 7 (6 goals, 5 penalties), Pedro Zacharías 7 (3, 1 penalty, he was subbed in by Juan Jauretche 7 at the start of the seventh chukka due to an injury), Tomás García del Río 7 (3), Fred Mannix  7 (2). Total: 28.

Chapaleufú: Rufino Bensadón 7 (10, 6 penalties), Juan Martín Zavaleta  8 (1), Julián de Lusarreta 7 (1), Felipe Dabas 7. Total: 29.

Score Alegría; 0-2, 3-2, 6-3, 8-6, 9-8, 11-8, 12-10, 14-12.

Umpires: Martín Pascual & Gonzalo López Vargas.

Third Man: Federico Martelli.

 

La Natividad 17-14 RS Murus Sanctus

La Natividad: Camilo Castagnola 9 (9 goals, 3 penalties and 1 corner), Pablo Pieres 9 (5, 1 penalty), Bartolomé Castagnola Jr. 9 (3), Ignatius du Plessis 9. Total: 36.

RS Murus Sanctus: Facundo Sola 9 (1, received a yellow card in the fourth chukka), Guillermo Caset 10 (10, 7  penalties), Pablo Mac Donough 10 (2), Juan Martín Nero 10 (1). Total: 39.

Score La Natividad: 2-2, 6-7, 9-8, 10-8, 12-10, 16-13, 17-14.

Umpires: Gastón Lucero & Guillermo Villanueva,

Third Man: Matías Baibiene.

 

IMAGES:

Alegria vs Chapaleufu

La Natividad vs RS Murus Sanctus

 

128th ARGENTINE OPEN: Fixture & Teams