LAS MONJITAS WIN XI COPA JULIO NOVILLO ASTRADA JAEGER-LeCOULTRE
Las Monjitas beat Los Cocos (who received one goal on handicap) by a narrow 10-9, and won the XI Copa Julio Novillo Astrada Jaeger-LeCoultre, after the final that took place at La Aguada Polo Club, in Open Door, Argentina.
Therefore, Camilo Bautista’s foursome retained the title they obtained in 2013. Besides, Las Monjitas is the second team to capture the Copa Julio Novillo Astrada for two consecutive years, after El Caburé, winners in 2011 and 2012.
Pancho Bensadon scored the winning goal in the last seconds in extra chukker.
Las Monjitas maintained the lead in the first three chukkers; by half time they had a 6-5 advantage. However, Los Cocos put enough pressure during the second part of the match, and tied at 8-all in the fifth chukker.
In the last chukker, and with only a minute remaining in regulation time, Los Cocos and Las Monjitas were awarded with a foul apiece, that ended up in penalty conversions by Diego Cavanagh (Los Cocos) and Eduardo Novillo Astrada Jr. (Las Monjitas), to tie at 9-all, and sent the game into extra chukker.
Following a thrilling extra chukker, Pancho Bensadon produced a quick run to the goalposts, and sealed the 10-9 win, with only 15 seconds to go.
In other finals, El Milagro took the Subsidiary I, after defeating Murus Sanctus 13 a 9, while the Subsidiary II went to Salkeld, who took a 12-9 win over Bendabout.
The Argentine Polo Pony Breeders Association awarded Polo Sofía (Polo Tempral x Reina), bred by Alberto Pedro Heguy and ridden by Pancho
Bensadon, as the Best Polo Argentino Bred. The River Slaney BPP Award went to Fax Victoria, bred by Anzorreguy, and ridden by Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario.
Pancho Bensadon took MVP honors, and the Skeeter Johnston Fair Play Award was presented to Toto Zubillaga.
Score Las Monjitas: 2-2, 5-2, 6-5, 7-6, 8-8, 9-9, 10-9