The Argentina Polo team, once again made up of two pairs of brothers, Rufino (14 years old) and Beltrán Laulhé (17) – who recently won the Coronation Cup – Lorenzo (16) and Pedro Chavanne (14), beat Spain 14-8, despite having conceded a goal advantage due to their greater team valuation, and thus won the Argentina Embassy Cup. in a new international Test-Match that was played on Sunday 18/8 at Ayala Polo Club, located in Sotogrande.
The team led by the Argentine open multi-champion Bartolomé “Lolo” Castagnola, was superior during the six chukkers against the last champion of the FIP World Cup of 14 goals and thanks to the great game of Rufino Laulhé, scorer and MVP of the match, defeated the local team, which had Pelayo Berazadi as its best value on the day. Let’s remember that Pascual Sáinz de Vicuña, who was going to be a starter in the team led by Benjamín Araya, but was injured a couple of days before the match and was replaced by Martín Iturraspe.
Great triumph for this young and talented formation of the Argentine Polo Team!
Teams and progression:
Argentina: Pedro Chavanne 2 (1 goal), Rufino Laulhé 4 (8, six penalties), Lorenzo Chavanne 5 (2, one penalty) and Beltrán Laulhé 5 (3) (Received a yellow card in the fourth chukker). Total: 16. Coach: Bartolomé Castagnola.
Spain: Roberto Iturrioz 2, Luis Domecq 3 (Received two yellow cards in the sixth chukker), Martín Iturraspe 5 (1) and Pelayo Berazadi 5 (6, two penalties and one corner). Total: 15. Understudy: Santos Iriarte 2. Coach: Benjamín Araya.
Argentina: (0-1) 3-1, 4-3, 6-4, 7-6, 9-7 and 14-8.
Umpires: Julian Appleby and Esteban Ferrari. Arbitrator: Santos Anca.