The 2012 Argentine Polo Association got underway and La Dolfina wasted little time in showing why they are the heavy favorite as they raced out to an eight goal lead that they maintained through much of the game in their 17-9 win over Magual.
La Dolfina and Magual started cautiously, with Cambiaso and company putting up two unanswered goals in the opening chukker. La Dolfina 2, Magual 0.
Magual found its offense in the second period, scoring two goals to La Dolfina’s three. At the end of the chukker La Dolfina held a 5-2 advantage over a struggling Magual foursome.
Three more goals were scored on a silent Magual team. The defensive strength of the La Dolfina four shutout Magual for the second time. La Dolfina’s offensive talents accounted for three more goals. Three periods into the game La Dolfina was on top of an 8-2 score.
Magual managed another goal in the fourth, but the teamwork of the 40-goal La Dolfina lineup proved to be too much. The lead was stretched to eight goals to end the first half with La Dolfina leading, 11-3.
La Dolfina and Magual each scored a single goal in the fifth as the defending champion appeared to be saving their horses for another day. The period ended with La Dolfina in front, 12-4.
For the first time all day, Magual outscored La Dolfina, putting two goals on the scoreboard. La Dolfina added a single goal as they continued to lead, 13-6.
Three more goals from La Dolfina in the seventh restored the eight goal lead they enjoyed earlier in the game. Magual scored twice but fell behind, 16-8.
The outcome was inevitable as the teams went through the motions. The teams scored one goal apiece in a 17-9 La Dolfina win.
PILARA PIAGET 13, ALEGRIA 12
In their last meeting (Hurlingham Open), Pilara Piaget (Francisco Bensadon, Hilario Ulloa, Sebastian Merlos and Paco de Narvaez) beat Alegria by four goals, 22-18, but the Argentine Open was another story. After trailing by two goals to start the game, 3-1, Alegria came charging back in the second chukker to tie it up at 4-4.
In the third, Alegria got its offense on track and scored three goals while holding Pilara Piaget to a single score. Alegria led by two goals, 7-5 at the end of the chukker.
Alegria scored twice in the fourth while shutting out the Pilara Piaget offense, and at the end of the first half of play, Alegria boasted a four goal lead, 9-5.
A refocused Pilara Piaget team took the field in the second half disabling Alegria’s offense and scoring two goals. At the end of the fifth period the Alegria lead had been cut to two goals, 9-7.
Pilara tightened its defense in the sixth chukker, shutting out the Alegria attack. Sebastian Merlos suffered a hard fall in which his protective glasses caused cuts to his nose and forehead. After a brief pause, he remounts and the game goes on. Pilara Piaget adds a couple of goals to tie the game at 9-9.
For the fourth chukker in a row, Alegria allowed themselves to be outscored. Pilara Piaget scored three times while holding Alegria to two goals. Pilara Piaget ended the seventh period with its first lead since the opening chukker, 12-11.
Both teams battled furiously through the final seven minutes of the game. Alegria scored a goal, but so did Pilara Piaget. The final horn sounded with Pilara Piaget taking the match, 13-12.
Argentine Open action will continue on Sunday with Ellerstina facing La Aguada/Las Monjitas. The second match of the day pits La Natividad against La Aguada.