ByJorge Andrades
In a sunny and windy afternoon, defending Champions Ellerstina outclassed Alegria 20-15 in the first encounter for the A zone of the 116th edition of the Argentine Open. Meanwhile, in the second match played on the excellent Palermo fields, Pilara Piaget gained 16-15 over Indios Chapaleufu II.
The opening duel was excellent as both teams played an open and fast game. The first half was tied and exciting as the losers, brilliantly conducted by Juan Ignacio Merlos, managed to control the defending champions who could not find their rhythm. A proof of this was the fact that when the fourth chukker finished, they were tied 9-9.
Ellerstina made the difference from the fifth period when they mounted their best horses and won the following two chukkers 3-0 and 3-1, taking a decisive leading margin which AlegrÃa could not discount up to the end of the match.
Juan Martin Nero, who returned after a suspension and outstood for the winners said that “we knew that Alegria was a good squad as they beat Pilara in the Hurlingham Open. Thus we could not make any mistake. When we finished tied the fourth chukker, we had to do the best of ourselves to overcome them. Taking into account it was our debut in Palermo this season, I am happy with our task. It was a funny match where both teams played open…â€
On the contrary, the second game was mediocre as there were many fouls and stoppages. Pilará Piaget showed speed and a great team work in the first chukker, gaining a 4-0 lead. Immediately Indios Chapaleufú II reacted and put up their efficient team work, bolstered by a good task by Uruguayan David Stirling in midfield, and managed to narrow the gap to 5- 7 in the end of the third period.
Nevertheless, thanks to AgustÃn Merlos’ skills in attack (he scored 9 goals) , the winners increased the difference again to a six goals lead (12-6) in the fourth minute of the fifth chukker. But from that moment the losers fought back to equalize 14-14 with the only goal scored by Alberto Heguy jr. at the start of the last period.
It was then when Indios Chapaleufú II seemed to gain the confidence to reach victory, but it was again “Tincho†Merlos who, with two more goals, gave his squad the deserved triumph. The late goal done by Eduardo Heguy to discount was not enough…
TEAMS, goals in brackets and chukker scores:
Ellerstina (20 ): Facundo Pieres 10, Gonzalo Pieres jr 10, Pablo Mac Donough 10, Juan MartÃn Nero 10.Total, 40
AlegrÃa (15): Frederick Mannix jr. 6, Francisco Bensadón 8, Juan I. Merlos 9, Luke Tomlinson 8.Total,31
Chukker scores: Ellerstina 4-2,5-4,7-6,9-9.12-9,15-10,18-13,20-15
Scorers: Ellerstina: Facundo Pieres 5-1 pen, Gonzalo Pieres jr 7, Pablo Mac Donough 3, Juan MartÃn Nero 5.AlegrÃa: Frederick Mannix jr. 2, Francisco Bensadón 4-2 pen, Juan I. Merlos 4, Luke Tomlinson 5 pen.
Pilara Piaget (16) : Agustin Merlos10, Santiago Chavanne 8, Sebastián Merlos 9, Marcos Heguy 10. Total, 37
Indios Chapaleufú II (15): Alberto Heguy jr. 8, Ignacio Heguy 9, David Stirling jr. 8, Eduardo Heguy 9.Total 34
Chukker scores: Pilara Piaget 4-0,5-3,7-5,10-6,13-9,14-10,14-13,16-15.
Scorers: Pilara Piaget: Agustin Merlos 9-3 pen, Santiago Chavanne 2, Sebastián Merlos 3, Marcos Heguy 2. Indios Chapaleufú II : Alberto Heguy jr. 1, Ignacio Heguy 1, David Stirling jr. 3, Eduardo Heguy 10-7 pen-1 corner.