Today’s games originally scheduled for the Tortugas club were moved due to soggy fields to the beautiful Centauros and Ellerstina polo clubs, both of which are due to host later stages of the Argentina Polo Tour.  The fields at Tortugas should be ready for Wednesday action as the weather now is fantastic.  It’s a beautiful sunny day, the sky speckled with clouds and the heat mercifully cut by a gentle breeze.  I arrived a few minutes early.  As the field crew were setting up Centauros’ field 4, I sat back sipping mate as spectators arrived, parking along the boards as the players stick and balled in preparation for the match.  The umpire’s whistle pierced the air calling the players to centre and me to a midfield seat on the berm.  The teams meeting at centre are the 16 goal squads of Hammerle and Ferne Park, Hammerle looking for it’s second win and Ferne Park for their third, which would certainly send them to the final.  The game opens with Hammerle’s Carlos Farinati ripping down the boards and cranking a neckshot for the opening score.  The game, from the outset is moving at a nice pace, open and running.  It doesn’t take long for Ferne Park to tie it at 1 up as Miguel del Carril converts a penalty 3.  Ferne Park is again advancing as Del Carril first calls off Eden Omerod and subsequently pops it up to him, going straight to goal upon being asked to leave it, Omerod finishes for the 2-1 lead. The early lead, an unusual position for Ferne Park as they mounted late come from behind charges in their first two victories.  However it doesn’t last long as Hammerle takes it from the throw-in and Matias Bennoit finishes out front to tie the game at 2.  Hammerle quickly strikes again to take a 3-2 lead and put Ferne Park in a more familiar early game deficit.  Ferne Park looks to correct this quickly and go on the aggressive but miss wide, Hammerle’s knock-in is intercepted by Ferne Park but again their effort goes wide.  The next knock-in makes mid-field before Ferne Park’s Omerod makes a strong challenge, engaging in a ride-off with Bennoit who, as he reaches forward for the ball on the boards, gets his balance upset and slides down the neck of his horse to a heap on the ground as the chukka bell sounds.  Chukka 2 begins with Ferne Park continuing to pressure, from mid-field to the Hammerle goal the action swirls, Ferne Park unable to finish with a goal, these missed opportunities could come back to haunt them.  Ever so briefly Hammerle enters the offensive end and whilst there draw a foul, they work the ball up from there, a long shot, wide.  Ferne Park take it from their end-line and, drawing two fouls, work it back up field towards goal.  Hammerle defends well and mounts a charge of their own, running the length of the field but miss the goal leaving the ball on the field, Ferne Park backs it from there and Del Carril takes it all the way and finishes, the only goal of the chukka, game tied at 3.  The third begins with much of the same action, both teams going hard at each other, not afraid to bump and run.  Hammerle having trouble taking their offence all the way to goal, again they reach the boards with a knock-in and Ferne Park backs it away to Del Carril who goes to goal and again scores, this time with a sharp cut shot through the uprights.  Joaquin Pitaluga wants some of this action too, he takes it from the throw-in, works it down field and pops it over the traffic in front for the 5-3 Ferne Park lead.  Hammerle, somewhat frustrated but undeterred, refocuses and continues their assault on Ferne Park’s solid defence, something has to give.  Finally Farinati finds a crack, he’s on the run, dribbling the ball, keeping it with him he takes it through the goal, 5-4.  The beautiful flow of this game now becomes a grind, both teams digging in and going at each other, back and forth the battle wages, horses flying, ears pinned, brakes thrown on, bumps upsetting balance, foul shots not finding the goal, furious action.  Finally with seconds ticking down Hammerle pops the ball out to a running Bennoit, he has found a place between the pack and a defender out of place in front, he strikes it off the post and in tying the match at 5 as the bell rings to end the chukka.  Excellent 16 goal polo, great action to end the half.  In the break, I look around, I believe there are six polo fields here althoughI can’t see them all from where I sit, they are scattered about the property and surrounded by beautiful houses.  This Centauros club is another ideal setting for polo.  As I relax during the half, with the sun beating down, I almost fall asleep, lulled by the distant sound of a lawn mower and the murmur of nearby conversation.  Pitaluga snaps me out of my semi-slumber with a gorgeous little play, he collects the ball in the throw-in and pops it under a horse, scoots around behind the other player, scoops the ball up again and is off toward goal, he loses the ball along the way but Del Carril has his back and is fouled.  Pitaluga converts the penalty 3 at the walk and breaks the tie again for a 6-5 Ferne Park lead.  This game starts to flow again, but not for the lack of defence, Ferne Park on the way to goal, Hammerle with a ride-off and a nearside to clear and head to goal themselves until Del Carril backs it off the goal-line to prevent the score, back and forth they flow, goals hard to come by once again.  Finally Bennoit converts a penalty to tie the game yet again, 6-6.  Deep in Ferne Park’s end Hammerle fouls, Pitaluga sends the foul shot long to Del Carril who with two strikes has the ball splitting the uprights and seperating the teams by a goal, 7-6 for Ferne Park to end the 4th.  Back and forth these teams continue, neither letting up.  Juan Monteverde picking off a penalty 3 from Del Carril’s mallet, Hammerle’s drive stalling, Ferne Park the other way, Omerod with a nice approach and a neck shot to score…now Del Carril from the throw-in with a nearside for another Ferne Park score, 9-6.  Just when you think Ferne Park has the momentum, Hammerle from the boards to goal, 9-7…Bennoit jumps a change of line and strikes to get Hammerle within one, 9-8 as the chukka ends.  Chukka 6 begins at a slower pace, teams jockeying for position, horses and riders almost at a standstill, straining into ride-offs.  Hammerle comes free from the pack, Farinati breaking to goal and chipping a score in on the way by, 9-9, another tie!  Suddenly a foul stops the action, Ferne Park has a shot to take the lead and do, 10-9.  The action ratchets up again, the field is a blur, they’re flying, bumping, Hammerle attacking, Ferne Park holding, now Ferne Park trying to extend the lead, Hammerle will not allow it…the chukka ends…frustration for Hammerle…relief for Ferne Park as they take it 10-9.

Now a short drive from Centauros, across the street, to the spectacular Ellerstina Polo Club for the next 16 goal match, Amadeus vs Tom Tailor.  I took my place at the boards alongside the other spectators and parked my butt on the hood of my rental car to watch the action on field #5 of Ellerstina.  As the action began I realized I was surrounded by the sound thundering hooves, both from the game before me and the practice behind me on field #6…so much polo happening here in Pilar!  Amadeus’ record was currently 1-1 and they needed a victory to stay in contention for the final.  Tom Tailor still had a chance as well with a victory in it’s lone game, another today would certainly leave them with an opportunity to reach the final.  The game begins with Amadeus coming out strong and their lead man, Guillermo Terrera, showing his skill.  On the run down the centre of the field he was, gently pushing, almost caressing the ball along, Ellerstina’s field almost more resembles a golf green than any other surface, so smooth…a foul by the Tom Tailor squad and Santiago Marambio was converting the penalty 4, 1-0 for Amadeus.  Terrera with the ball again, a tail shot to Pablo Llorente but Tom Tailor gets there first, whistle from the umpire, voiced discontent from Terrera, now a wagging finger and a warning word from the umpire…silence…a chuckle from the crowd.  Amadeus controls the ball again and another score, this one from the field, 2-0.  Tom Tailor applies some pressure and in turn draws a foul but misses the conversion.  Now Terrera with it again, the ball on a string, he looks, passes to Llorente, a hook and a back shot from a Tom Tailor player but another fouls trying to pick it up the pass…now the Tom Tailor team wants to complain…the umpire cautions…he doesn’t want to hear a word from them either.  Chukka 2, Terrera recovers a ball deep in his on end, in the corner, he heads across his own goal mouth looking to clear the zone, drops the ball, a Tom Tailor player picks it up, turns it, scores, 2-1.  Tom Tailor makes another attempt at goal but their efforts are thwarted by a solid Amadeus defence and Marambio finishes at the other end, 3-1 for Amadeus now.  Tom Tailor successful this time in their reply, 3-2.  Amadeus has an answer for that, two of them in fact, and suddenly they lead by a score of 5-2.  Juan Monteverde jockeys for position, looking to set up the Tom Tailor team in front of him, he goes for the big passing shot just as Terrera moves across behind him for the hook…a clash of mallets…the shrill of the umpire’s whistle…a thread holding a mallet in half…Monteverde holding his wrist…an ambulance enters the playing field.  Moments later a penalty 3 is being struck by Tom Tailor only to be blocked by Terrera on the run, a safety, this attempt sails right and the chukka ends, still 5-2 for Amadeus.  The Tom Tailor squad must be frustrated but they return to the field determined and make a solid push to goal and are fouled on their way.  This time they convert and close the gap somewhat, 5-3 now.  Both teams bear down now, Tom Tailor on the run, riding off, nearside, just wide…Amadeus return fire, almost to goal, ball skips high, off a mallet…Tom Tailor collects it on the run, again wide…Amadeus knocks it in and attacks, a slight adjustment to the ball, a man behind, a whistle…the crowd groans…Tom Tailor gains control of the ball, again on the run to goal, thwarted…Amadeus now, shooting, wide…again Tom Tailor with it, their shot to goal, wide…Amadeus, wide again!!!  Unbelievable end to end action, both teams laid out and running, neither able to find the goal with their efforts and the 3rd chukka ends with the only scoring being Tom Tailor’s early penalty conversion…wow…time to breathe.  Undeterred by the lack of scoring in the last chukka both teams come out for the 4th still at it.  Unfortunately for the Tom Tailor foursome it’s Amadeus that correctly adjusted their sights.  Terrera pots another goal to make it 6-3 and as Tom Tailor is advancing a ball careens of a horses’ rump and Amadeus picks it up on the run, Bennoit wants a foul and says so…whistle…Bennoit has further commentary…another whistle…this umpire still doesn’t want to hear from the players…Amadeus converts the penalty 3 and the lead is now 7-3.  Bennoit gathers his frustration and puts it to better use, ending Tom Tailor’s drought and scoring from the field to make it 7-4…and now a penalty, 7-5.  Patron Robert Kroft figures it’s his turn to say something but he speaks with his mallet and makes the score 8-5 for his Amadeus squad.  Santiago Marambio converts a penalty 4 for Amadeus and when the ball returns from orbit Tom Tailor makes a push that Amadeus thwarts and Marambio scores, this time from the field, 10-5 for Amadeus to end the 4th.  Amadeus add another to begin the 5th. Battered but not beaten Tom Tailor comes back, crushes one of a post which is smacked out of the air almost immediately by an Amadeus mallet only to curve over the end-line and give a safety to Tom Tailor, which they convert, 11-6 for Amadeus.  The Tom Tailor team keeps at the attack but for every score they muster Amadeus has an answer and the 5th chukka ends with Amadeus holding on to their lead 13-8.  The 6th chukka is more of the same and despite a game effort by the Tom Tailor team they are unable to gain any ground on Amadeus.  The game ends in Amadeus’ favour 14-9.

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