Ellerstina and La Ensenada claimed victories on day one of the Tortugas Open, the first leg of the prestigious Argentine Triple Crown. The tournament is played on single elimination. The quarter final games were played on Tuesday, October 5, at the Argentine Association of Polo in Pilar. The tournament sees eight teams, up to 39 goals, compete.
First up, title holders Ellerstina overwhelmed Alegria in the latter’s comeback to Argentine high goal. Led by an unstoppable Facundo Pieres – who scored no less than 15 goals – Ellerstina claimed a massive 23-7 win to qualify for the semifinals. Ellerstina had to make an unexpected change in the sixth chukka, however, when Matias Torres Zavaleta subbed in for an injured Hilario Ulloa.
The following game was a very different story. La Ensenada, recent winners of the Jockey Club Open Thai Polo Cup, took a 12-10 win over La Natividad. While La Ensenada held the advantage throughout the match, La Natividad were always hot on their heels. With only one chukka remaining, La Ensenada held a 11-10 advantage. A spectacular goal from Juan MartÃn ZubÃa in the last to sealed the deal to secure their place in the semifinal. Â
TORTUGAS OPEN – TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5
- Ellerstina 23-7 Alegria
Ellerstina Johor: Facundo Pieres 10 (15 goals, 8 penalties, 1 corner), Hilario Ulloa 10 (4)*, Gonzalo Pieres Jr. 9 (1), Nicolás Pieres 10 (2). Total: 39. (*Replaced by Matias Torres Zavaleta 8, 1 goal, in the sixth chukka due to an injury)
AlegrÃa: AgustÃn Merlos 7, Pedro ZacharÃas 7 (3), Tomás GarcÃa del RÃo 7 (2, 1 penalty), Fred Mannix 7 (2, 1 penalty). Total: 28.
Score Ellerstina:Â 2-0, 6-0, 11-1, 15-2, 16-4, 20-5, 23-7.
Umpires: Federico Martelli & Gastón Lucero.
Third Man:Â Rafael Silva.
- La Ensenada 12-10 La Natividad
La Ensenada: Juan Britos 9 (5 goals), Alfredo Bigatti 8 (2), Juan MartÃn ZubÃa 8 (4, 1 penalty, received a yellow card in the fifth chukka), Jerónimo del Carril 8 (1). Total: 33.
La Natividad: Camilo Castagnola 9 (10, 6 penalties), Pablo Pieres 9, Bartolomé Castagnola Jr. 9, Ignatius du Plessis 9. Total: 36.
Score La Ensenada:Â 2-0, 3-1, 5-3, 9-5, 10-8, 11-10, 12-10.
Umpires: Guillermo Villanueva & Gonzalo López Vargas.
Third Man:Â Esteban Ferrari.
The Tortugas Open resumes on Wednesday, October 6, in Pilar, with the remaining quarter final games. The second will see the two Cambiasos – Adolfo and Poroto – go head to head:
- 1,30pm: RS Murus Sanctus vs. La Irenita
RS Murus Sanctus:Â Guillermo Caset 10, Cristian Laprida 8, Pablo Mac Donough 10, Juan MartÃn Nero 10. Total: 38.
La Irenita:Â Santiago Loza 8, Segundo Bocchino 7, Ignacio Toccalino 8, Isidro Strada 8. Total: 31.
Umpires: Guillermo Villanueva & Gonzalo López Vargas.          Â
Third Man:Â Esteban Ferrari.
- 4pm: La Dolfina Saudi vs. La Dolfina Brava
La Dolfina Saudi :Â Adolfo Cambiaso 10, David Stirling 10, Francisco Elizalde 9, Diego Cavanagh 9. Total: 38.
La Dolfina Brava: Guillermo Terrera 9, Adolfo Cambiaso Jr 8, Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade 8 , Alejo Taranco 8. Total: 33.
Umpires: MartÃn Aguerre & Gastón Lucero.                          Â
Third Man:Â MartÃn Pascual.
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The Tortugas Open final is due on Saturday, October 16. Â