Day game is being played

First game of the day is being played.

In the matter informed more rains are expected in less than an hour but the heavy rains trajectory are passing through the north of the  buenos aires

Please carry umbrellas in you are going to Palermo

hoping the best for players and horses!

Catch up of the current triple crown Polo season in Argentina

 Hurlingham Final

18-15 La Dolfina over Ellerstina,  won its fifth argentine polo championship in a row.

As known La Dolfina won in an erratic show of its scorers efficiency in the first chukkas, a little help form the referees *bad as usual, for both parties,  in the Hurlingham Final, but without 

Ellerstina in one word, is in the mist, without its horses superiority, needs more about Facundo Pieres and the teammates, some ideas where given in my previous remarks.

First two games  in the Argentine Open that I saw
In one of the warnest days in Argentine history for the season *spring with a high humidity, due to the activities of El Nino, the first games of both days where played under extreme conditions for the public, the players and their horses, is one of the things to take care in the future by the organizers.

Ellersrtina won over Chapaleufu, in field Two,  but with signs of the same problems in the field as in the other tournaments, against a practical senior polo player team with great will and efforts of former argentine open winners, than current actuality, but shows the weakness of the other team for moments.

The actions for moment was amazing but with the limitations of the field due to a not very eficient conditioning  planing of the field *to dry and to muddy in some places!, that cost the lamness of some horses, another thing to be put in examiniation by the organizer.

The games on field One, the Grandstand, I saw.

Both games  shown the difference of the game when good players are mounted on good argenine  TB horses against the current polo argentino breed, this great differences could be made just with that but curretly they dont posses the quantity to perform in these high standard make them to reuse their best horses *usualy TB , without a current knowledge to how to use them more efficient way.

The problem for these teams are the way how they reuse their horses and the luck of the quantity of good horses, that was the same problem these teams shown in the other tournaments against La Dolfina and Ellerstina after they made excelent performance in the first chukkas they played with them.

Theres a problem to be solved in the field One,  near the 30 and 40 Yard mark of the goal posts next to the clock area,  that made some shots be erratic due , to the irregulararity of the field *shows a little to sandy , that cost too many problems for the players mostly in all actions played within this area in both games.

 La Aguada ICBC won over a team of new kids in the block like Magual Prodigy Network,  12 a 10 in a difficult and effort match for the former argentine open champion. 
La Aguada ICBC Chukka & score- results: 1-1, 2-3, 4-4, 5-5, 7-7, 8-8, 10-8, 12-10
 Nice Video of the match from ESPNargentina
 http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/videohub/video/clipDeportes?id=deportes:2232176

In an incredible match LA-Las Monjitas lost against Alegria *the last runner-up of the last year argentine open, to the reused factor and some unlucky in some actions in the last two chukkas specially in the unhit backhand of Eduardo Novillo Astrada Jr. near Dorrego Stand side  in the last minutes of the last chukkas that could made Alegria revive to equalize the game *after they where losing in game for more than six goals in the first chukkas, and the revival of an great player in a bad day like Hilario Ulloa in those chukkas too.

 Alegría Assist Card Chukka & score- results: : 0-1, 0-3, 1-6, 4-6, 4-8, 6-8, 7-9, 11-11 , 12-11

Polito Pieres poor day in the field and underform  *in a national magazine Noticias, shawn in Night Clubs until late hours, etc. ..

Nice Video of the day matchs from ESPNargentina
http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/videohub/video/clipDeportes?id=deportes:2232244


Yesterdays action highlights Ellerstina 15-12 against LA-Las Monjitas
 http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/videohub/video/clipDeportes?id=deportes:2237990

With the changes made *asked in my remarks before, as the expected the results was showing with a reborn Ellerstina at last, against one of the best argentine polo temas with former polo payer chamipions.

In its best form i the first 5 chukkas, Facundo, Gonzalo, Nicolas Pieres as 3 and Ignatius du Plessis as4 *in sustitution of an injured Mariano Aguerre from last match against Chapaleufu.

Facundo Pieres -illness possible stomach virus, stop him and his teammates in the last chukkas after being the player he is, in his best form.

More remarks the coming days.

Posible Rain delay in Argentine Open day today

Nor there-s no news about a rain delay from the organazers, we saw that the Buenos Aires area forcast shows new heavy rains to come, so its possible to have a suspention of todays games.

Rains delay in Argentina - Hurlingham Final next Saturday 11/08

Due to recent heavy rains

*El nino factor!

The Hurlingham Final will be played next Saturday 11/08

Hurlingham Final next Saturday again La Dolfina-Ellerstina -year match 2-

Due to the some luck (always needed) and the the amazing horses lot, of each of the finalists they are in a new Final this year.

Saturday La Dolfina 13 - Alegria 12
High temperature and high humidity the  field  (Number 1) was good (to improve little dry in zone areas near the main stand)

La Dolfina won its match but with some doubt about its way to shown its superiority, when the other team are well mounted and they install pressure in the ball carriers  , as shown with in other matchs like the first match played in the Asociacion for this tournament in the first part of the match 6-5   with the juvenile team of Miramar the other week.

La Dolfina (same as Ellerstina) is not showing today, the horses superiority of other years becausse that other teams posses some nice new horses (mostly are TB), than before, but with the small selection of them play against there performance when they play them in the repetitions in the last chukkers.

This is the main reason becasuse the matchs are finishing so close this year.

It must be remembered also that the best horses appears in the Argentine Open, but they are starting to be used with some limits in action in Hurlingham or being used so solve the game like this weekend.

Cambiaso played with discomfort due to an lumbago ache that coudnt press well the left stirrup.

Ther main goal for La Dolfina is to achive a new Triple Crown victory  this year, and  still undeafeat after its last 18 matchs...

In  my opinion in the middle of the season, the things are not the same as the pasing years, its more equal the teams is not playing at its peak but still wining because of the quality of players, horses and the aid of some luck.

Nice video of the match (in spanish)


Saturday Ellerstina 14 - La Aguada 12
High Temperature little hot breeze -field condition ok (must improve condition after the weekend atchs before the coming rains this week)

Ellerstina won due to there analysis of game and the different options of selection when decide  to play the really good horses they posses in the last 3 chukkers that gave them the return ticket to the new final,

Gonzalo Pieres leads the team in the last 3 chukkers, when mounted his best horses,  made de difference and shown the way to his teammates that was not playing well again.

Infront of them La Aguada, the former team of the Family Novillo Astrada, that as the last years needed some changes and this year with a mature Facundo Sola and Guillermo Caset (two coming stars)  will give more than a headache to anyone needs some words from the bench to not to desesperate in the closing chukkers and a better horse lot selection.

Ellerstina Piaget: Facundo Pieres 10 (7, 3 penalties), Gonzalo Pieres (h) 10 (4), Mariano Aguerre 9 (1) y Nicolás Pieres 9 (2, one penaltyl). Total Hcp: 38.        

La Aguada ICBC: Facundo Sola 8 (1), Guillermo Caset (h) 9 (9, one penaltyl), Miguel Novillo Astrada 10 (2) e Ignacio Novillo Astrada 9. Total Hcp : 36.    

Ellerstina Piaget: 2-2, 3-4, 4-4, 5-7, 8-8, 11-10, 13-10 y 14-12.   

Judges: Matías Baibiene y Esteban Ferrari  (no comments)   Chair Judge: Juan José Díaz Alberdi.

  In my opinion Ellerstina must improve in the long shot to goal department  and see if Mariano Aguerre can play as 4 and leave the the problems to the rest with Nicolas Pieres in number 3.

As last year La Dolfina Champion again in Tortugas Open

La Dolfina 14 Ellerstina 8

In an nice mild temperature day La Dolfina dominate Ellerstina, due mainly to a better shaped condition of their horses

Score
3-0 /4-2 /5-3/ 8-3 /8-4/ 11-6/ 14-8

La Dolfina presented again as a real Dream team, with a better understanding of the new rules and in a great day when everyting was going right, won without having any problem

Ellerstina with some home work to do as also hasnt the day facundo in a forgetable day too *lost three penalties *2 40 y and 1 60y buy totally out of focus today as his other team mates.

In order to explain what happen could be found in a different objective in the process to the Argentine Open , must improve it for certain, they posses the tools to regain its best shape.

Facundo Pieres shows a minor injury in his arm after the match.

Cambiaso MVP of the Tortugas Final, won also the best horses of the match, one the best of the final and the best Argentine polo horse, as also the top scorer... what else he can achive this year!

Ellerstina also must improve in the faults issue 14 are so much! against La Dolfina *only 8, cpuld be cause by a luck of consistecy shown after the 5th chukker (with  some wrong decision from the judges that again arent at the same levl as the players need) and evident frustration in thefield when nothing was working against La Dolfina precise order of their players, with an ideal atack and defense transitions of all players.

Ellerstina could play better that today! 

La Dolfina is in the right paterns to mantain there triple crown.