2015 Hurlingham Open

 

La Dolfina remains undefeated; Washington upsets La Aguada

 

By Alex Webbe

 

With all eyes waiting for Friday’s 4pm game that would feature Argentina’s only 40-goal team, La Dolfina (Adolfo Cambiaso, Pelon Stirling, Pablo MacDonough and Juan Martin Nero polo fans almost overlooked the early game of the day that saw a 31-goal, qualifying Washington team (Diego Cavanagh, Ezequiel M. Ferrario, Facundo Sola and Alfredo Cappella) upset a veteran 34-goal La Aguada foursome (Agustín Merlos, Guillermo Terrera, Sapo Caset and Ignacio Novillo Astrada), 13-12.

 

Washington took control of the game from the onset, scoring three unanswered goals in the opening chukker to lead, 3-0.

 

Three more Washington goals in the second period had La Aguada trailing by five goals, 6-1, as La Aguada managed to rally for one goal in the chukker.

 

The two teams traded goals in the third with each side adding two goals.  The Washington lead stood at an impressive 8-3 after the third chukker.

 

Both offenses bogged down in the fourth chukker, concentrating on their defense.  La Aguada continued to struggle but found themselves trailing by five goals, 9-4 at the end of the first half.

 

La Aguada burst onto the field in the opening chukker of the second half outscoring Washington, 3-1.  Washington continued to lead but La Aguada had creeped to within three goals of the lead, 10-7.

 

La Aguada fought through the final two chukkers, but a determined Washing team held on for the hard-fought 13-12 victory.

 

Facundo Sola’s set the pace for Washington with eight goals (four on penalty conversions) as Tincho Merlos and Sapo Caset tried to figure out what had happened. 

 

La Dolfina 18, La Aguada/Las Monjitas 7

 

It was another powerful day for undefeated La Dolfina (Adolfo Cambiaso, Pelon Stirling, Pablo MacDonough and Juan Martin Nero), facing La Aguada/ Las Monjitas entry (Ignacio Toccalino, Pite Merlos, Eduardo N. Astrada Jr. and Alejandro Novillo Astrada).

 

La Dolfina fell behind in the opening chukker being outscored by a single goal, 2-1, and that was when La Dolfina came alive. 

 

La Dolfina took the lead in the second, outscoring La Aguada/Las Monjitas, 3-1.  La Dolfina continued to dominate as they raced off to a respectable 7-4 halftime lead with Adolfo Cambiaso scoring the lion’s share of the goals.

 

La Dolfina continued to pour it on, scoring three goals in each of the chukkers.  La Aguada couldn’t mount a successful attack in the sixth, seventh and eighth period, losing to a powerful and veteran performance that gave the game to La Dolfina, 18 to 7, with Cambiaso scoring eleven times in the rout.

 

Play continues in Zone B competition on Saturday at 2 pm with Alegria (Magoo Laprida, Hilario Ulloa, Lucas Monteverde and Fred Mannix) playing Magual (Alejandro Muzzio, Francisco Elizalde, Marco Di Paola and Santiago Toccalino) followed by a 4pm contest between Ellerstina (Polito Pieres, Nico Pieres, Gonzalito Pieres and Facundo Pieres) and Chapaleufú (Pepe Heguy, Nachi Heguy, Bautista Heguy and Eduardo Heguy).