La Dolfina crushes Miramar 19-6 in Hurlingham Open play; second game interrupted by rain at halftime

By Alex Webbe

La Dolfina (Adolfo Cambiaso, David Stirling, Pablo MacDonough and Juan Martin Nero) won the opening match of the 2014 Hurlingham Open in a 19-6 romp over Miramar (Gonzalo del Tour, Valerio Zubiaurre, Inaki Laprida and Santiago Toccalino) while the second match of the day between Alegria (Polito Pieres, Hilario Ulloa, Lucas Monteverde and Alfredo Cappella Barabucci) and La Aguada/Las Monjitas (Lucas James, Cristian Laprida, Eduardo Novillo Astrada and Alejandro Novillo Astrada) was suspended by rain at the end of the fourth chukka, with the score all even at 8-8.

With everyone expecting a blowout by La Dolfina, the score remained quite close in the opening chukkers. La Dolfina relied on goals from Adolfo Cambiaso and Pelon Stirling for an early 3-0 lead. Miramar fought back in the second, outscoring the 40-goal powerhouse 2-1. After two chukkers of play, La Dolfina held a 4-2 advantage.

For the second consecutive period Miramar outscored La Dolfina, 2-1. After three chukkers La Dolfina found themselves clinging to a narrow 5-4 lead.

The two teams exchanged single goals in the fourth. The first half ended with La Dolfina holding to a one goal lead, 6-5.

A regrouped La Dolfina returned to the field in the fifth period and took immediate and undisputable control of the game. Four straight goals by the La Dolfina attack were complimented by seven minutes of shutout defensive play. La Dolfina had extended their led to five goals, 10-5.

Conditions got no better for Miramar in the sixth. La Dolfina scored five more goals with no response from Miramar. After six chukkers La Dolfina held a commanding lead of ten goals 15-5.

Three more La Dolfina goals were scored in the seventh period without the Miramar foursome being able to counter. With just one chukker remaining in the game, La Dolfina had extended their lead to 13 goals, 18-5.

Miramar finally appeared on the scoreboard with a single in the eighth and final period. La Dolfina matched the goal with one of their own for the 19-6 final.

Adolfo Cambiaso led all scoring with ten goals, five from the field. Pelon Stirling, Pablo MacDonough and Juan Martin Nero each scored three times in the win. Gonzalo del Tour led the Miramar offense with three goals. Inaki Laprida scored two goals and Santiago Toccalino added a goal in the loss.

Alegria and La Aguada/Las Monjitas 8-8 before being rain delayed

In the second match of the day, Alegria took the field without their team captain but managed to outscore La Aguada/Las Monjitas, 3-1.

The combination of Polito Pieres and Hilario proved dangerous for La Aguada/Las Monjitas as they helped run the score up to 7-1 in the second chukker. La Aguada/Las Monjitas struggled on offense, falling behind by six goals.

La Aguada/Las Monjitas rallied in the third on goals from Alejandro Novillo Astrada and his brother Eduardo, cutting the six goal lead down to just three goals, 8-5, and outscoring Alegria 3-0 in the process.

La Aguada/Las Monjitas scored three more goals in the fourth while Alegria was unable to put points on the scoreboard.

While both teams returned to the sidelines for a halftime intermission, rain began to fall. Before the intermission had been completed, the game had been rained out. The balance of the game would have to be rescheduled while hope were optimistic that the two games (Ellerstina vs. Chapaleufu and La Aguada vs. Magual) slated to be played on Sunday would be able to be played.

In the four chukkers of play, Alegria’s Polito Pieres scored five times (three penalty conversions). Hilario Ulloa added two goals and Alfredo Cappella Barabucci (filling in for the injured Fred Mannix) converted a penalty shot for a goal. Alejandro Novillo Astrada scored five times (three on penalty shots). Eduardo Novillo Astrada added two goals from the field and Lucas James scored once on a penalty conversion.