I awoke somewhat late on Saturday morning, I wasn’t expecting polo to happen early, if at all, after all of the rain Friday day and into the night. I solidly blame my soggy expectations and not the fact that I was enjoying drinks and dancing until 5 in the morning at the Robbie Bar in Pilar…I think I have adapted well to Argentine culture, no? Regardless of my expectations, my first move of the morning was to my iPhone to check the Twitter account of the Argentine Polo Tour (@ArgPoloTour) to see what the word was on scheduling…a 12 o’clock start?!? Less than an hour and I had a 40 minute commute, I snapped out of the bed, into the shower and to Starbucks for a bucket of coffee with some espresso tossed in for good measure. Of course on my way into Buenos Aires it started to rain yet again…argh…was this all for naught? I decided there was no turning back at this point, heck, I was already starting to vibrate from the caffeine, it was at least worth a Palermo drive-by. Lo and behold…the game was on…incredible. I parked and made my way to the grandstands of field 1, there wasn’t a dry seat in the house yet polo was being played and the field looked to be holding up perfectly, not a sign of water or damage from the play…I knew this field could take a lot of water but…wow…what a fantastic polo field!
I glanced around, people were scattered throughout the main grandstands, a few under umbrellas and a few all the way at the top level under the shelter of the roof. I wiped a seat dry in the first row and sat down to take in the action, which had not awaited my arrival, it was already into the 3rd chukka for the 16 goal teams of Hammerle and Tom Tailor with the later leading 8-4. 
The field conditions being excellent, so was the polo, the game looked quite good, both squads seemed, at the moment, to be playing well. I didn’t have to wait long for further scoring as Hammerle closed the gap with 2 quick goals from the field and the 3rd chukka was over with the score 8-6. The teams traded goals to begin the 4th, this was a nice game to watch although Tom Tailor seemed to be the stronger squad as they notched another goal by penalty and then Juan Etchevertz (if the order of players on the scoreboard was correct) stroked a gorgeous penalty from 70 yards out by the boards, a beautiful, effortless swing and Tom Tailor led 11-7. Hammerle had no quit in them but they seemed to be seeing the ball more than the line and were fouling themselves out of contention. A roar from Bennoit was evidence of Hammerle’s mounting frustration as the Tom Tailor squad put their 12th on the board, who were really hitting the ball well and working as a team. Hammerle’s effort never slackened and they manage to draw a foul from the defending Tom Tailor team, Bennoit strikes a beautiful penalty shot of his own which only just drifts wide, another cry of exasperation. Hammerle returned to the field determined to mount a comeback and started well, scoring just 27 seconds in and keep the pressure up but to no avail as they sail two consecutive charges just wide. Then a technical against Hammerle, their frustrations have become too verbal for the umpire…oops, another foul called during play, this time the verbal frustration released into a hand solidly clamped over mouth…hilarious…no tecnical…good technique. Hammerle keeps pressuring, another wide, they really are playing quite well but everything is just a little off, they aren’t seeing the same lines as the umpire and their timing is a touch off, both with each other and the ball. Finally they get in sync and pot a goal, and another making the score 12-10 but alas there are only seconds left in the game and Tom Tailor takes the victory.
The next game was on field 2 and there was over an hour before it began. What was a person to do? Oh…what’s this? An asado? Perfect. Hmm, the only thing ready at the moment were the burgers…ok…a burger then…and another…oh, by the way…the Stella Artois went perfectly with the burgers. Time to stroll over to field 2, as I rounded the field enjoying the Stella, which had outlasted the burgers, I noticed players reading, chatting, doing a little stretching and playing with foot mallets. Combined with the sun cracking out and the faint call of the horse races from across the street, it was a most peaceful time indeed, I am almost certain I didn’t fall asleep in the stands during my wait, I was just resting my eyes.
Now it was time for Ferne Park vs Amadeus. Both of these 16 goal teams had finished their last games really working well together, I was looking forward to watching this match, could they carry the momentum into today’s game? At the outset it looked as if Amadeus could, they took control of the ball and advanced, working a beautiful three man game, Ferne Park’s defence was good, so they cycled, Pablo Llorente being the third to come back and pick up the ball moving at speed, taking it straight to goal and striking it through for the 1-0 lead. Then it was Guillermo Terrera’s turn, when this guy is on…he is on…fantastic mallet work and timing, taking a penalty from centre all the way down the middle and through the entire Ferne Park team for the goal, 2-0. Joaquin Pitaluga seemed to decide to respond to Terrera’s goal in kind, he took control of the ball and worked it downfield himself. Amadeus’ strong defence pushed Pitaluga to the corner but he was not to be deterred and as he worked it back towards goal was fouled and converted, 2-1. Both teams were to send potential goals wide before the end of this chukka, Ferne Park missed a penalty conversion and Amadeus sent one wide after a nice run. The teams still seemed to be feeling each other out but this was shaping up to be a nice game. The 2nd chukka opens with both squads looking to run, the game opens up, marred only by fouling turning ball to the right with players coming down the line, an error made by each team, undeterred they continued to run, strong ride offs, beautiful backs, nothing getting across the goal mouth. Amadeus’ pressure was strong, as was Ferne Parks defence but the brief scoring drought was ended by Terrera as he lept on the line of a defending Ferne Park backshot and drew the foul which was converted, 3-1. Now Terrera heading downfield at speed dribbling in the air, Ferne Parks defence, strong still, hooks his goal shot and takes the ball but turns it right with Pablo Llorente coming hard down the line, foul and the convert, 4-1. Straight from the throw-in Terrera is again out front on his way to goal and finishes with a nice little neck shot, 5-1. Ferne Park proved in their last match that they are well able to overcome a deficit and now they were going to have to do it again. The chukka ends with Miguel del Carril popping a neck shot in just before it crossed the end-line and Ferne Park cuts the deficit by 1, 5-2 for Amadeus. Good defence by both squads in the 3rd, hard riding, big bumps, open running, really nice polo to watch. The biggest crowd reaction came with, Amadeus patron, Robert Kofler going to goal and carrying the ball well after Terrera dropped a beauty pass to him, the murmur from the crowd building with his great approach shot and erupting into a groaning gasp as his goal shot missed by a fraction. Pitaluga converted a penalty for the only goal of the chukka, 5-3 for Amadeus. As good as the defence was in the 3rd, the offence equalled it to begin the 4th; 30 seconds in Amadeus’ Marambio tallies a goal, 6-3; 40 seconds later Pitaluga answers for Ferne Park, 6-4; now Kofler getting a goal and a cheer from the crowd, 7-4…all in the first quarter of the chukka. Suddenly a loud smack and a gasp from the crowd…Miguel del Carril and his horse are down! Instantly the horse is up and heading to the pony lines, seemingly fine. As Del Carril climbs to his feet Pitaluga is dismounting and checking on his horse as well, all seems ok and after hitching a ride from the ambulance to the pony lines Del Carril is back on a horse and on the field. The game’s pace not affected by the collision for a moment both teams go back to work, grinding, defence better than offence again and the chukka ends without further scoring, 7-4 for Amadeus. The 5th and both teams are attacking each other, defence still strong until Pitaluga carries another into the corner and working it out gets fouled and converts, 7-5…someone’s complaining, a technical, another foul on the field, converted, 7-6…Ferne Park take it from the throw-in, pressuring Amadeus’ defence again, it’s backed away from goal, Pitaluga recovers it, turns and scores to tie it up at 7! Amadeus has bent but are they broken? Amadeus now mounts an assault of their own, Ferne Park defends but knocks it over their own end-line for the safety, Santiago Marambio converts to regain the lead for Amadeus, 8-7. As the 30 second bell rings Miguel del Carril is knocking the ball out of the air to a streaking Joaquin Pitaluga who finishes to tie the match again, 8-8. This has turned into a heck of a game of polo. Has Ferne Park stolen the momentum from Amadeus? The teams take the field for the 6th and the action is ferocious, back and forth they attack and defend. Ferne Park proving that their first come from behind victory was no fluke, this team is tough and works hard. Amadeus wants this game as well though and are scrapping, they have Pitaluga pinned near the boards but he won’t relinquish the ball, Eden Omerod comes to his assistance, taking out a man, now another and Pitaluga breaks free, sending it to Del Carril who necks it a little too much and puts it across the goal mouth where Pitaluga catches up to it and tails it home…wow…9-8…Ferne Park’s first lead of the game. Ferne Park takes it the length and puts another through the uprights to finish the game and win a tough one over Amadeus. What an entertaining game to watch.
Back to field 1 for the third game of the day, another Stella and a chorizo on the way by the asado for some sustenance to carry me through and I was ready for Techno Polo vs Sainte Mesme. Sainte Mesme being a 14 goal team they started out with 2 on the board.
The first two minutes of the chukka saw 5 fouls called, this umpire was letting the teams know how he wanted it played, clean. The message seemed to get through and the game began to move, back and forth they went, nary a goal scored until 5:40 into the chukka with Sainte Mesme getting the goal and increasing their lead to 3. Techno Polo comes right back at them and looks to reply but sails one just wide of goal to end the chukka, 3-0 for Sainte Mesme. Chukka 2 begins with Sainte Mesme attacking again, Techno Polo seems to have defended and be on it’s way but the ball takes a bounce, Sainte Mesme pounces and the lead is now 4. Techno Polo gathers themselves and begin working the ball down the field putting Sainte Mesme in positions to foul, first one from centre, then a penalty 3, Tomas Pieres converts and Techno Polo is on the board, 4-1. On the attack again it’s Matias Logioco for Techno Polo taking the ball, turning to goal and on the run through the goal…and I mean through it, taking out the goal post as he scores, flipping and landing hard…he looks to be ok and play shortly resumes. Now this game is open, they’re are running now, Techno Polo’s patron, Frank Dubarry, flying out front, aggressive, wanting the ball and carrying it when he gets it. Techno Polo gets fouled again and Pieres converts the penalty 4 to close to within one, 4-3 for Sainte Mesme. Chukka 3 starts tighter than the 2nd ended, some of the flow of this game has disappeared, balls being dropped, plays not being completed. Both squads keep at it, working hard, fighting to get some flow. Techno Polo seems well organized, a few times we see the ball tailed from Tomas Gandara to Pieres who sends it on to Dubarry, beautiful stuff but they can’t finish it with the goal. It’s Sainte Mesme who strikes first, converting a penalty for the 5-3 lead. Now Logioco for Techno Polo converting a penalty 3 to get back within one, 5-4. Sainte Mesme shows their playmaking skills as well, Gonzalo Von Wernich with a strong ride off and a pretty back to Robert Strom who finds nothing but post with a nice neck, Techno Polo clears. Sainte Mesme again with it, Von Wernich to Nordheimer who sends it to the boards where Von Wernich catches up to it, backs it to Nordheimer who sends it on to Robert Strom with a neck, Robert Strom running out of field attempts the hard cut shot and just misses the goal…pretty stuff but again no scoring. It takes until 3:10 into the 4th chukka, with these teams slugging away at each other, before Gandara splits the uprights, following up his Techno Polo teammates who worked hard to move downfield with the ball, tied 5-5. Von Wernich ends the tie converting a penalty 4, 6-5 for Sainte Mesme. Gandara picks Nordheimer’s pocket at mid-field and rips to goal, Nordheimer goes to the whip and challenges at the goal-line but the ball skips through regardless, 6-6, tied again. The 5th chukka starts with Nordheimer finishing from the field to put Sainte Mesme up again, 7-6. Techno Polo attacks, sending one wide of the goal, they keep the pressure up, Sainte Mesme’s defence holds, a foul shot goes wide, on the knock-in a bad bounce, Techno Polo pounces, Sainte Mesme holds again, the chukka ends, still 7-6 for Sainte Mesme. The 6th chukka and Sainte Mesme seemed determined to not let this game slip away from them. They come out on the attack, Techno Polo defends, Sainte Mesme attacks again, 8-6…again, now 9-6. Techno Polo strikes back, 9-7. Von Wernich has had enough, he heads to goal, 10-7, again he is on the run, out front, 11-7. It’s over, Sainte Mesme holds off Techno Polo who, despite tying the game twice, were never able to over come the 2 goals on handicap allowed to Sainte Mesme and take the lead.
Next Argentine Polo Tour action is scheduled for Monday at Centauros.
Thanks for reading!
Chau for now.
Dylan Foster