Ellerstinaand Estancia Grande record wins in Sunday’s Argentine Open action
By AlexWebbe
Ellerstinascored an opening win over Alegria Sunday afternoon in the opening round ofplay in the 118th Argentine Open played on the fields at Palermo in Buenos Aires. The 20-17 victory heldlittle in common with arch-rival La Dolfina’s 23-10 walk over Chapa Unoyesterday, but a win is a win, and Ellerstina certainly showed its ability toscore goals in the match.
Ellerstinatook an early 2-1 lead after the first chukker with goals from Facundo Pieresand Nico Pieres. Francisco Bensadon keptAlegria from being shut out with a single goal.
Ellerstinaand Alegria scored two goals apiece in the second period. Bensadon added two more for Alegria whileFacundo Pieres accounted for both of Ellerstina’s goals. Although seemingly in control, Ellerstinaheld on to a narrow one goal 4-3 lead after two.
Ellerstinanotched three goals in the third, two more from Facundo and one from GonzalitoPieres. Ellerstina opened up a two goalspread, 7-5, holding Alegria to just two goals from Francisco de Narvaez.
Alegriapumped up its efforts in the fourth, outscoring Ellerstina 3-2 and trailing bya single goal, 9-8, at the end of the first half of play. Alegria got one from Bensadon and a pair fromde Narvaez. Ellerstina got single goalsfrom Nachi Heguy and Nico Pieres.
Two goalsfrom Ellerstina’s Gonzalito Pieres in the fifth were offset by a single goalfrom de Narvaez. After five chukkers ofplay, Ellerstina led by a just two goals, 11-9.
Ellerstinaexploded for three goals in the sixth, getting two from Facundo Piers and onefrom Nico Pieres. Alegria struggled tostay close, tallying goals from Freddie Mannix, Mariano Aguerre and de Narvaezand trailing by two goals, 14-12.
The teamscombined for six more goals in the seventh. Ellerstina picked up single goals from Facundo, Nico and GonzalitoPieres. Alegria countered with goalsfrom Mannix, Aguerre and de Narvaez, again. Alegria still trailed by two goals, 17-15, with seven minutes left toplay.
Ellerstinaoutscored Alegria 3-2 in the final period of play with Facundo Pieres scoringall three. Mannix responded with a pairof goals, but the 2010 Argentine Open defending champion held on for the 20-17win.
Facundo Pieresled all scoring with 11 goals. Nico Pieresand Gonzalito Pieres scored four goals apiece with Nachi Heguy adding a goalfor the win.
De Narvaezset the pace for Alegria with seven goals. Mannix and Bensadon scored four goals each while Aguerre added twogoals.
ESTANCIA GRANDE 18, CHAPA II 13
EstanciaGrande closed out the day’s Argentine Open play with an 18-13 win over IndiosChapaleufu II.
EstanciaGrande charged out to an early4-1 lead with Agustin Merlos and Lolo Castagnolascoring two goals apiece. Eduardo Heguyconverted a penalty goal for Chapa II.
AgustinMerlos scored two more goals for Estancia Grande in the second but Chapa IIresponded with three goals, cutting the Estancia Grande lead to two goals, 6-4.
A penaltygoal from Agustin Merlos and a goal from the field from Lucas Monteverde wereanswered by two penalty conversions from Heguy. At the end of three chukkers Estancia Grande maintained a two goal lead,8-6.
AgustinMerlos scored on a penalty shot and Castagnola added a goal from thefield. Heguy scored his team’s only goalof the chukker as Estancia Grande rode off the field at the end of the firsthalf with a 10-7 lead.
Defensestightened in the fifth, with Chapa II shutting down the Estancia Grande offensefor the first time all day. The Chapa IIattack didn’t do much better, managing a single goal from Alejandro NovilloAstrada and a penalty goal from Alberto Heguy. Chapa II still trailed, but it was just a single goal behind, 10-9.
Monteverdescored a pair of goals in the sixth and Sebastian Merlos added a goal. Astrada scored from the field for Chapa II andEduardo Heguy converted a penalty shot for a goal. Estancia Grande led 13-11. Sebastian Merlos received his fourth yellow card in the game, however, and would not be allowed to play in EstanciaGrande’s next contest.
AgustinMerlos added two more goals to the Estancia Grande total with Julio Arellano scouringthe only goal of the seventh chukker for Chapa II. Estancia Grande took a three goal, 15-12 leadinto the final period.
AlbertoHeguy managed a single goal in the eighth, but two goals from Castagnola and agoal from Monteverde shut the door on Chapa II as Estancia Grande celebrated the18-13 win.
Play willcontinue in the opening rounds of play in the Argentine Open on Saturday,November 26 with La Aguada (1-0) meeting Chapa Uno (0-1) at 2pm followed by afaceoff between La Dolfina (1-0) and Pilara Piaget (0-1) at 4pm. On Sunday, November 27, Estancia Grande (1-0)will meet Alegria (0-1) at 2pm followed by a showdown between La Dolfina (1-0)and Chapa II (0-1).