Copa De Oro Ellerstina 2009 – Semifinals
Monday’s rain delayed semi-finals on Ellerstina’s immaculate grounds gave rise to two very different matches. The first between Patagones and Las Monjitas seemed a pretty relaxed and even affair for the first 4 chukkas. Starting the 5th chukka at 6-6, Las Monjitas upped their game, increasing the speed and pressure and finished the chukka with an impressive field long run by Astrada to take them 9-6 ahead. Patagones, perhaps blinded by the fluorescent orange of the opposition’s strip, started to make mistakes and the final nail in the coffin came as Alejandro Muzzio, replacing the injured Piki Alberdi, charged down the field, stole a tapped hit in and nailed it through the goal to finish 11-6.
The second match, between home team Ellerstina and Sao Jose Polo Audi, was nail biting to the finish with the Brazilians playing their hearts out and producing some stunning and unexpected field plays. If there was any justice in the world Sao Jose should have won this game. Consistently ahead by a couple of goals for most of the match, they demonstrated that their Brazilian horse power could easily rival that of the Argentines at this level. This was fast, tough polo, with the Brazilians winning the majority of the ride-offs, but remaining noticeably disciplined and gentlemanly all the same. Their team work remained precise and their stick work consistent throughout and with a good sized Brazilian audience egging them on, they looked as though they had the game in the bag. However, in Jamie Packer and Santiago Stirling, Ellerstina had a couple of decent low handicapped players. Jamie more than pulled his weight, the new rules suiting his long shot style and he hit a number of decent backhands that got Ellerstina out of trouble at vital moments. The tables turned however in the final chukka, when Ellerstina, trailing 9-11, clawed back the deficit, to equalise at 11 all with 38 seconds left on the clock. A trademark pass to Gonzalo, who tapped the ball through in the dying seconds to lead 12-11, deprived the crowd of a much anticipated extra chukka.
In my view, man of the match was indubitably Sao Jose’s Argentine number one, Manuel Plaza de Ayala. Playing off a handicap of 3 and superbly mounted, he scored some dramatic field goals and appeared very much the equal of the Pieres’ when fighting for the ball. Demonstrating not only an impressive work rate but also great maturity in anticipating the plays, he clearly has the talent to become a top flight player.
The Teams
Las Monjitas: Camilo Bautista (0), Alejandro Diaz Alberdi (8), Alejandro Novilla Astrada (7), Juan Gris Zavaleta (7)
Patagones: Gonzalo Avedano (1), Juan Jose Brane (7), Milo Fernandez Araujo (8), Carlos Avedano (6)
Sao Jose Polo Audi: Manuel Plaza de Ayala (3), William Rodrigues (6), Rodrigo Andrade (8), Jose Eduardo Kalil (5)
Ellerstina: Santiago Stirling (1), Facundo Pieres (10), Gonzalo Pieres (10), James Packer (1)