Ellerstina wins but loses Aguerre; La Aguada/Las Monjitasloses in overtime to Alegria
By Alex Webbe
Surprises were the order of the day for the final two games in the first roundof play in the 2014 Argentine Open Championship at Palermo in Buenos Aires,Argentina Sunday afternoon.
In the opening game of the day Ellerstina (Facundo Pieres,Gonzalito Pieres, Mariano Aguerre and Nico Pieres) scored a 16-12 win over Chapaleufú,but at a devastating price.
First chukker play saw Ellerstina take an early 3-2 leadagainst Chapaleufú (Pepe Heguy, Nachi Heguy, Bautista Heguy and Eduardo Heguy),but it was a far cry away from the aggressive style of play they displayed intheir 24-13 win over them in Hurlingham Open play.
Ellerstina extended their lead to two goals in the secondperiod, 6-4. Chapaleufú scored twice butcouldn’t keep pace with the team in black.
The two teams matched one another goal for goal in thethird; two goals for Ellerstina and a pair of goals for Chapaleufú. Ellerstina continued to lead but couldn’tbreak away from Chapaleufú like they did in the past. Ellerstina held on to their two-goal lead,7-5.
Ellerstina nailed two more goals in the fourth. Chapaleufú managed a single goal and fellbehind by three goals at the end of the first half, 9-6.
The scoring pattern continued into the second half. Ellerstina managed two goals while holding Chapaleufúto a single goal. The Ellerstina leadgrew to four goals, 11-7, at the end of the fifth chukker.
Chapaleufú continued to concentrate on defense in the sixth,but Ellerstina continued to score. Twogoals to one found Chapaleufú trailing by five, 13-8.
Chapaleufú rattled their sabers in the seventh period andscored three goals. Ellerstina scoredonce but continued to lead, 14-11.
Ellerstina closed out the match with a pair of goals. Chapaleufú scored once but it was Ellerstinathat rode home with the 16-12 victory.
Facundo Pieres scored ten goals (eight by penaltyshots). Gonzalito Pieres added threegoals. Mariano Aguerre scored twice andNico Pieres added a goal for the win. Eduardo Heguy’s seven goals (five on penalty shots) led the Chapaleufúattack. Nachi Heguy scored three timesand Pepe Heguy added two goals in the loss.
The bad news for Ellerstina was the fact that 9-goalerMariano Aguerre suffered a fall in the final chukker that resulted in ashoulder injury that would end his season. South African eight-goaler Nachi Du Plessis was brought in to finish thegame for Aguerre. Aguerre also lost oneof his top horses, Vitina, in the fourthchukker.
Alegria 12, LaAguada/Las Monjitas 11 OT
More was expected from the Alegria foursome (Polito Pieres,
Hilario Ulloa, Lucas Monteverde and Alfredo Capella Barabucci) in Sunday’s
second match regardless of the fact that they had lost their team captain (Fred
Mannix, fractured hand). Alegria had
upset Ellerstina last year and made their way to the Argentine Open final, but
that didn’t seem to impress a hungry La
Aguada/Las Monjitas (Lucas James, Magoo Laprida, Eduardo Novillo Astrada and
Alejandro Novillo Astrada).
In a defensively-oriented opening chukker it was LaAguada/Las Monjitas with the only goal. Alegria was unable to break through the La Aguada/Las Monjitas defenseand trailed, 1-0.
The second chukker was no better for Alegria as thedetermined La Aguada/Las Monjitas defense kept them off the scoreboard onceagain. A porous Alegria defense allowedtwo more unanswered goals as they fell behind, 3-0.
Alegria finally got on the scoreboard in the third, but LaAguada/Las Monjitas continued to remain in control of the game. Alegria allowed three more goals. At the end of the third chukker La Aguada/LasMonjitas held a comfortable five goal advantage, 6-1.
Alegria regrouped for the fourth period and finally perkedup both their offense and defense. Alegria put up three goals while holding La Aguada/Las Monjitasscoreless. Fr the first time all dayAlegria managed to outscore La Aguada/Las Monjitas. At the end of the first half Alegriacontinued to trail, 6-4.
Just when it looked like Alegria was back, La Aguada/LasMonjitas slammed the door on them. LaAguada/Las Monjitas added two more goals in the fifth while shutting down theAlegria offense. After five chukkers LaAguada/Las Monjitas remained in front, 8-4.
Alegria turned the tables on La Aguada/Las Monjitas in thesixth period as they scored twice while silencing the La Aguada/Las Monjitasattack. Once again Alegria had cut thelead to two goals, but La Aguada/Las Monjitas remained in the lead, 8-6.
Both defenses stepped it up in the seventh chukker. Single goals were scored by each with LaAguada/Las Monjitas maintaining their two-goal lead, 9-7.
Alegria reached deep in the eighth. In their most productive offensive chukker ofthe game, Alegria came up with four goals. La Aguada/Las Monjitas scored twice but lost the lead with the gameending in regulation time all even at 11-11 , forcing an overtime to determinethe winner.
Hilario Ulloa was given credit for the winning goal inovertime as a disappointed La Aguada/Las Monjitas team left the field stingingfrom the 12-11 loss. La Aguada/LasMonjitas had led for seven chukkers but were unable to seal the deal, losing toAlegria in the overtime period.
Polito Pieres led the scoring for Alegria with six goals(three on penalty conversions). HilarioUlloa scored three times; Lucas Monteverde chipped in two goals and AlfredoCapella Barabucci scored on a penalty shot in the win. Alejandro Novillo Astrada’s six goals (fouron penalty shots) set the pace for La Aguada/Las Monjitas. Magoo Laprida added three goals with LucasJames and Eduardo Novillo Astrada scoring single goals in the loss.