Ellerstina/Piaget earns Tortugas Openfinal berth
By Alex Webbe
They didn’t come out of the blocks looking like the 2012 defendingTortugas Open championship team that is looking for their seventh consecutive title as the fell behind 4-0 after the first two chukkers of play. Ellerstina/Piaget (Facundo Pieres, Gonzalito Pieres, Mariano Aguerre and Nicolás Pieres) bounced back to outscore Alegria (Pablo Pieres, Lucas Monteverde, Hilario Ulloa and Frederick Mannix) 16-7 in the final five chukkers for the 16-11 win. The victory designated Ellerstina/Piaget as the first team to qualify for the finals of the Tortugas Open, with a semifinal game between La Dolfina (AdolfoCambiaso, Pelon Stirling, Pablo MacDonough and Juan MartÃn Nero) and La Natividad (Sapo Caset, Nachi Heguy,Rodrigo Andrade and Lolo Castagnola) on Sunday scheduled to decide the other tournament finalist.
Alegria looked like a world beater in the opening chukker asthey scored three consecutive goals and shut down the high-poweredEllerstina/Piaget attack of the Pieres brothers.
Two more unanswered goals in the second period had Alegriasitting on top of a 5-0 lead. Ellerstina/Piaget struggled to get on track and seemed content to let ahustling Alegria team have their way in the opening two chukkers.
Ellerstina/Piaget awoke in the third chukker, scoring fiveconsecutive goals while holding Alegria scoreless. At the end of the third it was all even at5-5.
Ellerstina/Piaget were now energized and entered the fourthchukker with purpose and direction. Fourmore goals had Alegria trailing 9-6 at the end of the first half.
The two teams traded goals in the fifth with Ellerstina/Piagetholding the three goal lead at 10-7.
Alegria continued to press the attack, but Ellerstina/Piagetfought back. Ellerstina/Piaget added twogoals and Alegria did the same. Aftersix chukkers of play Ellerstina/Piaget stubbornly held the on to the lead, 12-9.
Ellerstina/Piaget put an exclamation mark on the finalchukker of the match outscoring Alegria 4-2. Alegria was unable to make a final comeback and fell 16-11 as Ellerstina/Piagetcelebrated the victory.
Ellerstina/Piaget will wait for the results of Sunday’smatch between La Dolfina and La Natividad to see who they will be facing in thetournament finals that are scheduled to be played on Saturday, October 12th.