Dramatic win for Dolfina in the Hurlingham Open Final 2011

La Dolfina and Ellerstina faced off, once again, in an Open Championship Final for the second time in one month.

Following a closely fought Tortugas Open Final, where Ellerstina snatched victory away from La Dolfina with a last-second goal, the two teams were ready for a repeat match.

The first two chukkas saw both teams go head-to-head, with all eight players displaying enormously high levels of skill and class in a closely fought competition. It wasn’t until the third chukka that La Dolfina broke away following a string of goals from Adolfo Cambiaso and Pablo MacDonough.

Leading the next four chukkas, La Dolfina extended their lead to 19-14 in the final chukka, and looked certain to secure their first Open Final win of 2011. However, when Ellerstina’s, Facundo Pieres, scored four goals La Dolfina’s lead was reduced to 19-18. With only seconds remaining La Dolfina defended the ball deep in their own half following wave after wave of attacks from Ellerstina to win the match at the final bell.

This is La Dolfina’s first Hurlingham Open Final win since 2006. The teams will now prepare for the third and final championship of the Argentine season – the 118th Argentine Polo Open Championship – from November 19 – December 10, 2011.

Score La Dolfina: 2-2, 4-4, 8-6, 10-6, 13-7, 15-10, 16-14, 19-18. Adolfo Cambiaso, who scored 12 goals for La Dolfina, was named MVP. Facundo Pieres’s Open Tarantula of Ellerstina took BPP honours. Facundo Pieres was the Final's top scorer, with 14 goals.