Ellerstina (Facundo Pieres, Gonzalito Pieres, Mariano Aguerre and Nico Pieres) scored an unimpressive 12-10 win over La Aguada/Las Monjitas (Lucas James, Magoo Laprida, Eduardo Astrada and Alejandro Astrada) while a series of falls and injuries plagued a game that had La Aguada rallying for s second half win over La Natividad in the second day of Argentine Open play.
Ellerstina kicked the day off with a 12-10 win over La Aguada/Las Monjitas but were challenged along the way.
Opening chukker play had Ellerstina scoring twice on the Las Aguada/Las Monjitas defense. Las Aguada/Las Monjitas was unable to break through the Ellerstina defense and trailed 2-0 after the first period.
Both defenses tightened in the second allowing single goals from each team. Ellerstina continued to hold a two goal advantage, 3-1 after the second chukker.
Ellerstina continued to press the attack, but Las Aguada/Las Monjitas answered back, goal for goal. The powerful Ellerstina limped into the halftime break with a narrow 5-4 lead.
Second half action saw Ellerstina flexing its muscles as horses and teamwork began to show. Three goals from Ellerstina had them ahead, 8-6. Las Aguada/Las Monjitas stayed in the game, scoring twice and trailing by only two goals.
Goals were at a premium in the sixth period with Ellerstina registering the only score of the chukker. With two periods left in regulation time, Ellerstina stretched its humble lead to three goals, 9-6.
Las Aguada/Las Monjitas and Ellerstina each picked up a pair of goals in the seventh. Las Aguada/Las Monjitas was unable to break through the Ellerstina defense for more and continued to trail. The chukker ended with Ellerstina defending its three goal lead, 11-8.
Las Aguada/Las Monjitas made a final push in the eighth period, outscoring Ellerstina 2-1, but it wasn’t enough. Ellerstina left the field with the 12-10 win. It was indeed an Ellerstina victory, but they’re going to have to play a lot better if they have any hopes of challenging La Dolfina in this year’s finals.
LA AGUADA 12, LA NATIVIDAD 10
La Natividad (Polito Pieres, Nachi Heguy, Rodrigo Andrade and Lolo Castagnola) had shown some promise in the Hurlingham Open, recording wins over La Aguada (15-14) and Las Aguada/Las Monjitas (17-16) before getting destroyed by Ellerstina, 23-13, and continued to show some talent as they outscored La Aguada 4-0 in the first chukker.
La Natividad continued to dominate play in the second with two more goals. Sapo Caset finally got La Aguada (Sapo Caset, Javier Astrada, Miguel Astrada and Nacho Astrada) on the scoreboard, but they trailed, 6-1.
La Aguada finally got on track in the third. Four unanswered goals (all from Caset) got La Aguada right back into the fight. Shutout defense cut the La Natividad lead to a single goal, 6-5.
La Natividad bounced back in the fourth chukker, picking up two goals while La Aguada struggled to find its offensive punch. The first half ended with La Natividad enjoying an 8-5, three goal lead.
In a very physical fifth chukker, La Aguada picked up three straight goals (all from Caset) while keeping La Natividad off of the scoreboard, but it didn’t come without a price. Midway through the period Polito Pieres and Miguel collided throwing both players to the ground. Pieres was able to remount but an injury to the shoulder of Miguel Astrada forced him to leave the game, being replaced by Miguel’s cousin, Julio Astrada. Later in the chukker, Javier Astrada was hit in the face with the ball, but was able to play on. At the end of the chukker it was all even at 8-8.
La Natividad put up two goals in the sixth period while limiting the La Aguada attack to a single score (Caset). With two chukkers left to play, La Natividad held a narrow one goal advantage, 10-9.
Nachi Heguy suffered a fall in the seventh chukker, but after a brief delay, was able to continue. La Aguada scored twice while shutting out La Natividad. La Aguada rode into the final chukker with a one goal edge, 11-10.
La Aguada scored the only goal of the eighth chukker and captured a hard-fought 12-10 win.