Argentine Open – Day 4

By Jorge Andrades

“I played my best match this season” said David “Pelon” Stirling, the outstanding man of Indios Chapaleufu II after surprising Ellerstina by beating them 14-13 on the fourth day of the 116th edition of the Argentine Open. Meanwhile, in the previous encounter, Pilara Piaget downed Alegria 17-14.


With these results, Pilara leads the A zone with 4 points and if they beat Ellerstina next Sunday they will reach the final, but if the team of the Pieres brothers triumphs by more than one goal they will win their zone. Depending on their goal difference, both squads and Indios Chapaleufu II still have chances to play the decisive encounter of the most important tournament in the world.


Alegria put up a good performance again and thus Pilara Piaget had to play their best to overcome them. Blue shirts team took a 4 goals leading margin in the first chukker and increased it in the second (8-5) with good team work led by Sebastián Merlos in the midfield. From the third period, Alegria started to narrow the gap and in the fourth period had five chances to equalize through penalties and corners, but Tomlinson and Bensadón could not score.


Pilara Piaget gained the fifth chukker 3-1 to go ahead 15-11 and take a decisive leading margin which gave them the necessary confidence to win the game deservedly.”Pite” Merlos outstood again for the losers.


As happened with Stirling´s high class performance, Indios Chapaleufu II played brilliantly and surprised Ellerstina who played below form, very far from the great tasks they  had put up this season.


A proof of that was the fact that by the third minute of the second chukker, the winners were 7-0 ahead, developing great team work with a superb task by the Uruguayan Stirling who not only gained his duel against Mac Donough and Gonzalo Pieres jr. in the midfield, but also scored very important and good goals. From that moment Ellerstina seemed to react, led by their best man, Juan Martin Nero, but they could never find their rhythm.


The Heguy brothers´ squad defended their lead brilliantly, playing an open game and avoiding committing fouls in order to prevent Facundo Pieres scoring goals with penalties.


Ellerstina, who were the most serious candidates to win the tournament (and also the Triple Crown), lacked team play and also failed with the ball and if they want to reach the final without problems, they are obliged to beat Pilara by more than one goal next Sunday.


TEAMS:


Pilara Piaget (17): Agustin Merlos 10, Santiago Chavanne 8, Sebastián Merlos 9, Marcos Heguy 10.Total, 37.


Alegría (14): Frederick Mannix jr. 6, Francisco Bensadón 8, Juan I. Merlos 9, Luke Tomlinson 8.Total,31.


Scorers: Agustin Merlos 6-4 pen-1 corner, Santiago Chavanne 4, Sebastián Merlos 5, Marcos Heguy 2.Alegría: Francisco Bensadón 5, Juan I. Merlos 4, Luke Tomlinson 5 pen


Chukker scores: Pilara Piaget 5-1, 8-5,10-8,12-10,15-11,16-13,17-14,17-14.


Indios Chapaleufú II (14): Alberto Heguy jr. 8, Ignacio Heguy 9, David Stirling jr. 8,  Eduardo Heguy 9-Total, 34.


Ellerstina (20): Facundo Pieres 10, Gonzalo Pieres jr 10, Pablo Mac Donough 10, Juan Martín Nero 10.Total,40.


Scorers: Alberto Heguy jr.4,David Stirling jr.4, Eduardo Heguy 6-4 pen-1corner.Ellerstina: Facundo Pieres 6-2 pen, Gonzalo Pieres jr 1, Pablo Mac Donough 1, Juan Martín Nero 5.


Chukker scores: Indios Chapaleufu II 4-0,7-2,8-3,8-6,11-7,12-10,14-11,14-13.