By Alex Webbe
Two more matches took place today at Palermo, Buenos Aires in the qualifying tournament that will decide which two teams, besides the six playing at Tortugas (La Dolfina, Ellerstina, La Aguada, Pilara Piaget, Alegria, and La Natividad).
In the opening match of the day, La Aguada-Las Monjitas (Lucas James, Magoo Laprida, Eduardo Astrada and Alejandro Astrada) broke loose in the second half, running away from Sauvaterre (Gonzalo Deltour, Gaston Laulhe and Joao Paul Ganon) in a 16-9 romp.
La Aguada-Las Monjitas showed their experience in taking an early 3-2 lead after the opening chukker. Sauvaterre struggled to keep it close, but trailed by only a single goal.
Two more goals from La Aguada-Las Monjitas in the second stretched the lead to two goals, as Sauvaterre managed just a single goal in the period.
An invigorated Sauvaterre foursome put three goals on the scoreboard in the third, but was matched goal for goal by La Aguada-Las Monjitas. After three periods of play La Aguada-Las Monjitas was on top of an 8-6 score.
A pair of penalty goals from Alejandro Astrada in the fourth were answered by a single goal from Inaki Laprida. Sauvaterre trailed by three goals with three chukkers left to play.
Sauvaterre made little progress in the fifth with each team scoring a single goal. La Aguada-Las Monjitas continued to dominate and led 11-8.
Two more goals from Alejandro Astrada and a single score from Magoo Laprida in the sixth chukker gave La Aguada-Las Monjitas fourteen goals. Gaston Laulhe managed a goal for Sauvaterre who now trailed by five goals, 14-9.
A defeated Sauvaterre team took the field in the seventh period as Magoo Laprida and Alejandro Astrada each scored a goal to end the game in a 16-9 victory for La Aguada-Las Monjitas. Alejandro Astrada led all scoring with nine goals.
CHAPA II 11, LAS PRADERAS 5
Chapa II (Alberto Heguy, Francisco Elizalde, Nachi Du Plessis and Bautista Heguy) took control of the game against Las Praderas (Santiago Toccalino, Joaquin Pittaluga, Diego Cavanagh and Ignacio Toccalino) from the onset.
A 3-2 first chukker lead turned into a 5-3 advantage after the second with Bautista Heguy having his way with the Las Praderas defense.
Bautista Heguy added an unanswered goal for Chapa II in the third and another in the fourth for a 7-3 lead. After four chukkers Chapa II held a four goal, 7-3 advantage with Bautista Heguy scoring all seven goals.
Chapa II was cruising in the sixth as they allowed two goals from Las Praderas, their first goals since the second chukker. Chapa II answered with three goals of their own for a 10-5, five goal lead.
Chapa II added a final goal in the seventh for the 11-5 win.
There are two qualifying matches slated for Friday with La Irenita facing La Vanguardia at 2pm and Magual battling Trenque Lauquen at 4pm.