Ellerstina beats La Natividad 16-13 earns Hurlingham Open final berth By Alex Webbe
Eduardo Novillo Astrada had already hit the ground and Magual (Alejandro Muzzio,

Ignacio Toccalino, Marcos Di Paola and Jaime Huidobro) had taken a 3-2 lead over

La Aguada - Las Monjitas (Lucas James, Magoo Laprida, Eduardo Novillo Astrada,

Alejandro Novillo Astrada) when the game was suspended at the 6:30 mark due to

dangerous field conditions. Wet fields had already delayed the playing of last week’s

games in the 2013 Hurlingham Open before they were finally played, but in a game that

really didn’t matter, it was decided to suspend play.

The feature match of the day, however, between Ellerstina/Piaget (Facundo Pieres,

Gonzalito Pieres, Mariano Aguerre and Paco de Narvaez) and La Natividad (Sapo

Caset, Nachi Heguy, Rodrigo Andrade and Lolo Castagnola) did take place on the

Hurlingham Club’s Number 1 field.

The talented Ellerstina team looked comfortable in first chukker play as they ran out to

an early 3-1 lead, but La Natividad didn’t show up to be anyone’s punching bag.

La Natividad scored four times in the second period while holding Ellerstina to just a

pair of goals. At the end of the second period the two teams were all even at 5-5 and

Ellerstina knew that they were a battle.

Defense ruled the third chukker, with La Natividad scoring the only goal of the period.

After the first three chukkers of play the upset-minded La Natividad foursome led, 6-5.

Ellerstina fought back in the fourth, outscoring La Natividad 3-2. The first half ended in

an 8-8 deadlock.

Ellerstina scored the only goal of the fifth chukker. With three periods left in regulation

play, Ellerstina held a narrow 9-8 advantage.

Both offenses moved it up a notch in the sixth. Matching one another goal for goal, the

chukker ended with Ellerstina defending their one goal advantage, 12-11.

La Natividad managed two goals in the seventh while limiting the Ellerstina offense to a

single goal. With seven minutes left to play the score was all even at 13-13.

A determined Ellerstina team rode onto the field for the final chukker of play. Showing

flawless defensive prowess, Ellerstina scored three unanswered goals for the 16-13

victory and an appointment with La Dolfina in the finals of the 2013 Hurlingham Open

next Saturday.

Facundo Pieres led all scoring with ten goals (five on penalty conversions). Gonzalito

Pieres added four goals and Mariano Aguerre scored twice in the win. Sapo Caset

led the La Natividad attack with eight goals (four on penalty shots). Rodrigo Andrade

scored three times and Nachi Heguy added two goals in the loss.