Ellerstina’s win has finally broken the spell of La Dolfina who have reigned Triple Crown champions since 2013. The successive 39 wins came to an end after a astounding eight chukkas, plus overtime, of world class will-they-won’t-they polo. The path to the Final was pretty easy for both teams, and the polo world looked on as the predictable results rolled in, but on the day of the Final anticipation about which way the win would go was electric in the Hurlingham Club stands.
The scores were tied at the end of each of the first five chukkas before the Pablo MacDonough and Adolfo Cambiaso took their team into the lead. Nicolás Pieres took a nasty fall in the first half, but continued with a fresh rise.
Gonzalito scored twice to make it 8-9, and with only fifteen-seconds left on the clock, Facundo scored to tie the game and send it into extra chukka. Here Gonzalito came through again, stealing the ball and running to goal. He dodged his way through his opponents and scored an impressive neck shot to make it 10-9. His golden goal gave Ellerstina their first title in four years.
The Javier Novillo Astrada Trophy for The Most Valuable Player of the match was given to Gonzalito Pieres who received the award from Eduardo Novillo Astrada. Three ponies took home awards from the match, firstly the Daniel Kearney Cup, presented by the Hurlingham Club went to Anay Sur La Peluda played by Juan Martín Nero, the AAP award, presented by Hernan Agote, went to Comedida, played by Gonzalito Pieres and finally, the AACCP trophy, handed out by the associations President Santiago Ballester, was to Open Z Jones, another of Gonzalito Pieres’ ponies.
Match stats:
Ellerstina Johor (39):
Facundo Pieres (10) – Scored 4 goals including 2 penalties
Pablo Pieres (10)
Gonzalito Pieres (10) – Scored 5 goals
Nicolás Pieres (9) – Scored 1 goal
Last Triple Crown win: Argentine Open in 2012
La Dolfina Sancor Seguros (40):
Adolfo Cambiaso (10) – Scored 5 goals including 3 penalties
David Stirling (10) – Scored 1 goal
Pablo Mac Donough (10) – Scored 3 goals
Juan Martín Nero (10)
Three consecutive Triple Crown wins – 2013, 14 and 15, Tortugas Open 2016 and 39 wins in a row in Triple Crown tournaments
Chukka scores: 1-1, 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-6, 6-8, 9-9, 10-9 to Ellerstina Johor
