Ellerstina and La Dolfina Finish Top of Their Leagues
Due to heavy rainfall during the week, The Hurlingham Open matches scheduled for Friday 30 October were postponed. On Monday 2 November, Chapaleufú will play Magual and Washington Ghantoot will play La Aguada Las Monjitas.
However, on Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November it was La Dolfina and Ellerstina who came out on top as they took on the last of their opponents in their respective zones.
With La Aguada fighting hard in Saturday’s match against a lacklustre La Dolfina side, it was not quite the walkover the spectators had expected. However, the result was certainly as predicted and, despite not playing their best, La Dolfina were still undoubtedly the stronger side, even after losing Adolfo Cambiaso to an injury in chukka 6. Cambiaso was replaced by Brazilian 9 goaler Rodrigo Andrade, but even the loss of their lynchpin for the last two chukkas was not enough to stop the reigning champions from bringing the match to its inevitable conclusion, with a 16-10 win over La Aguada.
Ellerstina will join their rivals, La Dolfina, in the Final, after a 19-11 victory over Alegria. A strong first three chukkas saw Ellerstina winning 12-1 until Alegria found their stride in the fourth chukka, but it was too little too late after such an impressive start and there was no coming back.
The Final of The Hurlingham Open is scheduled to take place Saturday 7 November and it remains to be seen whether La Dolfina can keep up their unblemished winning streak in what is sure to be a tough challenge with Ellerstina on top form.
Photograph: An under the neck to goal from Rodrigo Andrade. By Katie Vickery
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