In a remarkable match played on Sunday November 1, Las Monjitas beat La Hache 16-13, but the orange jerseys were unable to make it to the final of the 86th. Tortugas Open, since they needed a five goal win. As a result, and despite the loss, the Ulloa-Panelo lineup will go head-to-head against La Natividad La Dolfina for the second title of the current Triple Crown.
Although both teams fought hard, it was clear enough that Las Monjitas were looking for an almost impossible task. But they did their best thoroghout a tough first half, that reached the momentum for Las Monjitas in a heavily rainy fourth chukka – until then, La Hache and Las Monjitas were head-to-head, and by the end of the third chukka, Benjamin Panelo tied at 7-all. But Las Monjitas rolled up in the fourth – Rufino Bensadon and Juan Martin Nero produced two goals each to make it at 11-7. By half time, they had a gap of four goals over La Hache, until was Lukin Monteverde found the flags in the fifth chukka to claim the much awaited five goal gap to get the second spot in the final. In the meantime, La Hache, who seemed to had things easier, seemed overwhelmed, and with a quick need to rethink their system of play for the remaining three chukkas.
Finally, La Hache bounced back; they scored three unanswered goals in the sixth, to reduce the distance to 10-13. However, Rufino Bensadon – the MVP of the match – came up again to seal the 14-10. With two chukkas remaining, Las Monjitas needed to score a couple of goals in order to reach their objective.
La Hache came closer to Las Monjitas after a goal by Tomás Panelo in the seventh, that was quickly replied by the indomitable Rufino Bensadon. Las Monjitas were leading 15-11, but La Hache kept fighting – Toly Ulloa and Benjamin Panelo found the flags twice. By the time to play the eighth and last chukka, Las Monjitas were 15-13 up. The miracle was still possible… or at least that’s what Rufino Bensadon thougth when he converted a penalty to widen the advantage to 16-13. But the clock was running fast and La Hache put a strong pressure over their opponents to avoid them to reach their goal. At the end of the day, Las Monjitas’ efforts didn’t pay off – they were victorious 15-13, but the win was not enough to reach the final. The match went to Las Monjitas, but it’s La Hache who will play the Tortugas Open final, against La Natividad La Dolfina, the rematch of the Hurlingham Open.
It was a bittersweet affair for Las Monjitas; they knew they had a very difficult task ahead and they were on the verge to make it. But one thing is for certain – they didn’t qualify to the final, but they won a great match and, most important, never gave up. With regards to La Hache, they must review their performance, before the decisive clash against the Cañuelas-based foursome.
LA IRENITA EARNED A NARROW WIN AGAINST LA AGUADA AND PUT SOME SPICE TO THE LEAGUE B DECIDER
Previous to the match between La Hache and Las Monjitas, La Irenita had to fight hard to beat a determined La Aguada foursome by a narrow 16-15, in a match that was decided in within the 30 additional seconds in the last chukka.
As we all remember, if La Irenita won their game, La Hache only needed to win or lose for no more than 4 goals; and this was the situation, which complicated Las Monjitas’ life a great deal, because they needed to win for five goals or more. And, at the end of the day, the latter was the choice…
Although La Irenita had a stronger start, La Aguada approached in the scoreboard slowly, mostly led by Joaquín Pittaluga’s remarkable accuracy to convert penalties, and goals by Bautista Bayugar. La Aguada presented a tough battle to La Irenita, and never gave up; by half time, La Irenita had a tight 7-6 lead, thanks to a great goal produced by Vizcacha MacDonough in the last seconds.
The second half saw much more from La Aguada, who were playing their best game of the season up-to-date; and, in addition, saw the skills of a fantastic Alfredo Bigatti who contributed with remarkable goals to keep the Open Door-based lineup in the scoreboard. It was Bigatti who picked up a pass from Pittaluga to score a great goal in the last minutes of the seventh chukka, to tie at 13-all.
La Irenita kept fighting – Polito Pieres and Paquito de Narvaez added two goals in the last chukka, to widen their advantage to 15-13. But far from giving up, La Aguada remained on their tail – another penalty conversion by Joaquín Pittaluga and a superb goal by Alfredo Bigatti marked the 15-15, with just a handful of minutes to go in regulation time. As the match stepped into the 30 additional seconds, many thought this could end in OT. But Pablo MacDonough had another ideas in mind – a fantastic shot found the flags, and La Irenita claimed the hard fought 16-15 victory.
LA NATIVIDAD LA DOLFINA AND LA HACHE WILL PLAY THE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH OF THE 86th. TORTUGAS OPEN ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 7.