By Jorge Andrades
The were no surprises on the second day for the A zone of the 116th edition of the Hurlngham Open, played at the Hurlingham Club in Argentina. In fact, La Aguada outclassed Alegria 19-13 and Pilara Piaget, without Agustin Merlos-suspended- defeated Chapa Uno 16-14 to start their way to the semifinal.
Making a big effort, tying their markings and led by Juan I. Merlos, who showed his conditions as a conductor, AlegrÃa did not allow their opponents take a wide difference in the score in the first four chukkers, when La Aguada, despite dominating, were leading by just two goals (9-7).
Bolstered by Eduardo and Javier Novillo Astrada´s play; the winners improved their performance from the fifth period and reflected it on the score increasing their lead progressively to reach a deserved but not easy triumph.
In the next match, played on an excellent field, Pilara and Chapa Uno started giving a high level of polo, playing an open game and showing synchronized team work. The first two chukkers finished tied, but the losers, thanks to a great task by Brazilian Rodrigo de Andrade, won the next period to go 7-5 ahead. Nevertheless, Pilara Piaget took control of the match in the fourth chukker, gaining it 4-0 with three goals by their best man, Santiago Chavanne –two of them by penalties-.
In the following three chukkers both squads lowered their standard of play but the losers continued making the differences close in the score, thanks to Francisco De Narvaez´s penalties. The back equalized 13-13 through a 60 yards penalty finishing the seventh period, but then missed two more which could have given his team the necessary confidence to face the last 7 minutes leading the score.
Nevertheless, Pilara, who had committed many “stupid†–as said Sebastian Merlos after the match- fouls which cost them very expensive, showed again a great team work and won the match in the first three minutes of the eight game as Chapa Uno, which had taken advantage of that fouls committed by their opponents in the sixth and seventh periods, were not able to react.
AlegrÃa (13 ): Frederick Mannix jr. 6, Francisco Bensadón 8 (2 pen ), Juan I. Merlos 9 (3 ), Luke Tomlinson 8 (8-7 pen) -31.
Chukker scores: La Aguada 1-1,4-3,6-5,9-7,13-8,15-9,17-11,19-13.
Pilará Piaget (16) : Lucas James 7 (3 ), Santiago Chavanne 8 ( 8-5 pen) , Sebastián Merlos 9 ( 2), Marcos Heguy 10 (3) – 34.
Chapa Uno Hope Funds (14 ): Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade 8 (3 ), Hilario Ulloa 8 (3 ), Bautista Heguy 9 (2-1 pen), Francisco de Narváez jr. 9 (6 pen ) – 34.
La Aguada (19 ): Javier Novillo Astrada 9, Eduardo Novillo Astrada jr 9, Miguel Novillo Astrada 10, Ignacio Novillo Astrada 9. Total, 37
AlegrÃa (13 ): Frederick Mannix jr. 6, Francisco Bensadón 8, Juan I. Merlos 9, Luke Tomlinson 8. Total,31
Chukker scores:La Aguada 1-1,4-3,6-5,9-7,13-8,15-9,17-11,19-13.
Scorers: La Aguada: Javier Novillo Astrada 6 -1 pen-, Eduardo Novillo Astrada jr 5, Miguel Novillo Astrada 3-1 pen-, Ignacio Novillo Astrada 5-2 pen- .AlegrÃa: Francisco Bensadón 2 pen, Juan I. Merlos 3, Luke Tomlinson 8-7 pen.
Pilará Piaget (16 ) : Lucas James 7 , Santiago Chavanne 8 , Sebastián Merlos 9 , Marcos Heguy 10.Total 34
Chapa Uno Hope Funds (14 ): Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade 8, Hilario Ulloa 8, Bautista Heguy 9, Francisco de Narváez jr. 9.Total 34
Chukker scores: Pilara Piaget 2-2,5-5,5-7,9-7,11-8,12-11,13-13,16-14.
Scorers: Pilará Piaget: Lucas James 3 , Santiago Chavanne 8-5 pen- , Sebastián Merlos 2 , Marcos Heguy 3.Chapa Uno:: Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade 3, Hilario Ulloa 3, Bautista Heguy 2-1 pen-, Francisco de Narváez jr. 6 pen.