La Natividad La Dolfina defeated Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu 18-10, and earned the first ticket to the final of the 86th. Tortugas Open, following the league decider that took place on Saturday October 31, at the Tortugas Country Club, in Tortuguitas, Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The second leg of the Triple Crown in Argentina sees ten teams up to 40 goals, in participation.
Jeta Castagnola opened all the scores, but Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu replied quickly, through two unanswered goals by Facundo Pieres to secure a 2-1 lead by the end of that first episode. However, La Natividad La Dolfina bounced back in the third – with remarkable goals produced by Poroto Cambiaso (2) and Jeta Castagnola, they outscored their opponents 3-0 to widen the advantage to 4-2.
But when the third chukka was about to start, the unexpected happened – a change of field had to be done on safety reasons, and the match moved from the club’s ground 7 to ground 6.
The game resumed in approximately 30 minutes, and La Natividad La Dolfina didn’t waste time – a lineup that it is indeed unstoppable and able to adapt to any situation. The unexpected change of fields didn’t damage their performance at all; by half time, they reached a 8-4 lead. And in the next two chukkas everything belonged to the Cañuelas-based foursome – while Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu struggled to stay in the game, La Natividad La Dolfina continued their stroll, in command of the whole situation. It took two chukkas to Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu to get rid of the “spell” of the 4 in the scoreboard – Facundo Pieres converted two penalties in the sixth, but La Natividad La Dolfina were comfortable enough building another victory, another path to another final. Led by the remarkable Poroto Cambiaso and Jeta Castagnola, plus crucial contributions from Adolfo Cambiaso and Barto Castagnola, La Natividad La Dolfina found themselves with a commanding 16-6 lead in the penultimate chukka; a deal almost said and done.
Although Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu managed to produce some goals in the last chukka, the damage was already done. That last chukka saw Adolfo Cambiaso and Barto Castagnola find the flags to secure the 18-10 win that earned La Natividad La Dolfina the first ticket to the final of the Tortugas Open.
Firm and steady, playing their own, perfect polo, La Natividad La Dolfina continue their winning streak, with their sights on their goal – to win their second consecutive Triple Crown.
- A VERY SIGNIFICANT WIN FOR LA ZETA KAZAK
In the meantime, La Zeta Kazak and Don Ercole clashed in the first match of the day, that saw the former dominating the first two chukkas – they reached a commanding 6-0 lead by the end of the two. However, Don Ercole managed to bounce back in the third, and with four goals by Facundo Cruz Llosa (4) and Pedro Zacharias, they closed the gap to just one goal (5-6). However, a determined La Zeta Kazak seized the reins, and took control of the remaining chukkas, earning significant advantages over a struggling Don Ercole foursome (who had Peke Gonzalez subbing in for Pedro Zacharias, at the start of the seventh chukka); with only one chukka left, La Zeta Kazak had an impressive seven goal lead (16-9). By the start of the eighth chukka, Facundo Cruz Llosa converted a penalty, but that was all – Lorenzo Chavanne (2) and Beltrán Lauhlé sealed the deal and the 19-10 win for La Zeta Kazak; a very important win, indeed, that secure them a significant amount of points in the ranking and the possibility to either remain in the 2027 Triple Crown or play the playoff against the winners of the Copa Cámara de Diputados.
THE SECOND FINALIST OF THE 86th. TORTUGAS OPEN WIL BE DECIDED ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 1.
League B will be decided as follows:
-La Irenita will clash against La Aguada; if the MacDonoughs’ team are victorious, La Hache must win or lose by no more than 4 goals to reach the final. In that case, Las Monjitas must defeat La Hache for 5 goals or more.
– If La Aguada beat La Irenita, then La Hache and Las Monjitas will play the league decider, and the winner will advance to the final, regardless of the result.
The order of play of the games of 86° Tortugas Open due on Sunday November 1 is the following:
11am: La Irenita vs. La Aguada
2pm: La Hache vs. Las Monjitas
THE FINAL OF THE 86th. TORTUGAS OPEN IS SET TO BE PLAYED ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 7.