The Tortugas Open came to an end on Saturday, October 16, at Tortugas Country Club, as Ellerstina defeated La Dolfina 11-9 to claimed the title for a third year in a row. The win mean that the organisation based in General Rodriguez won the first leg of the Argentine Triple Crown.

It was a very special win for Ellerstina. Hilario Ulloa was absent from their lineup due to injury, but he was replaced by Matias Torres Zavaleta, who lived up to the challenge.

The eleventh consecutive final between La Dolfina and Ellerstina was a nail-biting affair. La Dolfina got off to a better start, taking a 5-3 lead in the third chukka. But in the two following chukkas, a determined Ellerstina, led by a fantastic Facundo Pieres (top scorer of the day, with six goals), overwhelmed La Dolfina, outscoring them 6-1. That advantage proved crucial going into the seventh and final chukka when the scoreboard read 10-7 in favour of the double title holders.

But La Dolfina, far from giving up, reinforced its attack in the last chukka. They battled back, scoring three consecutive goals to narrow the gap down to one (9-10). At that point, it was anybody’s game, and everybody was expecting an extra chukka. But with four minutes left on the clock, a great play by Matias Torres Zavaleta resulted in a goal by Gonzalito Pieres that sealed the deal. Ellerstina won the final and secured their Tortugas Open hat trick. The title is the organisation’s thirteenth Tortugas Open.

TORTUGAS OPEN – FINAL EMILIO DE ANCHORENA CUP, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16

Ellerstina: Facundo Pieres 10 (6 goals, 5 penalties), Matías Torres Zavaleta 8 (2), Gonzalo Pieres Jr. 9 (2), Nicolás Pieres 10 (1). Total: 37.

La Dolfina Saudi: Adolfo Cambiaso 10 (1 penalty, received a yellow card in the fourth chukka), Francisco Elizalde 9 (4, 1 penalty, 1 corner), David Stirling 10 (3), Diego Cavanagh 9 (1, received a yellow card in the fifth chukka). Total: 38.

Score Ellerstina Johor: 2-1, 3-3, 3-5, 6-5, 9-6, 10-7, 11-9.

Umpires: Gastón Lucero & Gonzalo López Vargas.

Third Man: Martín Pascual.

AWARDS PRESENTATION

MVP: Matías Torres Zavaleta.

BPP presented by the Argentine Association of Polo:

Gete Origami (Los Machitos Libano x Gete Oracion).

Breeder: Cria Tanoira S.A.

Owner: Nicky Sen.

Player: Adolfo Cambiaso.

Best Polo Argentino Bred, presented by the Argentine Polo Pony Breeders Assn.:

Irenita Harinosa (Dolfina Cuarteto x Borren Bandeja).

Breeder: La Irenita S.A.

Owner: Valiente Polo.

Player: Pelón Stirling.

Tournament top scorer: Facundo Pieres (29).

IMAGES:

Final Tortugas Open: Ellerstina vs La Dolfina

Tortugas Open: Teams & Fixture