La Dolfina to defendArgentine Open with Saturday win
By Alex Webbe
La Dolfina (Adolfo Cambiaso, Pelon Stirling, Pablo MacDonough and Juan Martin Nero) became the first team toqualify for a berth in the final of the 2014 Argentine Open Championship on thestrength of a resounding 17-11 win over La Aguada (Facundo Sola, Sapo Caset,Miguel Novillo Astrada and Ignacio Novillo Astrada) Saturday afternoon on the Number1 field at Palermo in Buenos Aires.
La Aguada stayed close in the first five chukkers, Trailing2-1 after the opening seven minutes of play down just two goals, 8-6 at the endof the first half of play.
The two teams traded goals in the fifth, ending the periodwith La Dolfina on top of an 11-9 score.
La Dolfina’s horses might have been the difference as thedepth of the defending champion’s string allowed them to outscore La Aguada 3-1in the sixth chukker for a four goal, 14-10 lead.
The two teams traded single goals in the seventh, 15-11, buta 2-0 final chukker La Dolfina’s 17-11 victory.
Adolfo Cambiaso led the La Dolfina attack with eight goals(six on penalty shots). Pelon Stirlingshowed little effects from his elbow, scoring five times. Pablo MacDonough accounted for three goals andJuan Martin Nero added a goal for the win. Sapo Caset scored twice from the field and converted six penalty shotsfor La Aguada for eight goals on the day. Facundo Sola scored twice and Miguel Novillo Astrada added a goal in theloss.
The win allows La Dolfina the opportunity to defend their2013 Argentine Open title and a chance to score an unprecedented secondconsecutive Triple Crown sweep.
Magual 15, Miramar 11
Playing for pride and a third place finish in their bracket,Miramar (Gonzalo Del Tour, Vaerio Zubiaurre, Inaki Laprida and SantiagoToccalino) battled Magual (Alejandro Muzzio, Ignacio Toccalino, Marcos Di Paolaand Jaime Huidobro) to a 7-7 halftime score before riding on to beat them byfour goals, 15-11 in earlier play at Palermo.
Alejandro Muzzio led all scoring with ten goals (four onpenalty conversions). Ignacio Toccalinoadded four goals and Marcos Di Paola scored once for the win. Santiago Toccalino led the Miramar attackwith five goals (four on penalty shots). Valerio Zubiaurre scored four times and Gonzalo Del Tour added two goalsin a losing effort.
Argentine Open action continues on Sunday at 4:30PM withEllerstina facing Alegria in a rematch of last year’s Alegria victory todetermine La Dolfina’s opponent in the final. La Aguada/Las Monjitas andChapaleufú will meet in a 2PM contest.