Ellerstina, winners in a British afternoon in Hurlingham - by Alejandra Ocampos

Things were a bit difficult for this edition of the Hurlingham Open… Rains obliged to delay one day the start ofthe second tournament of the Triple Crown in Argentina, and next, the final between La Aguada and Ellerstina, due on Saturday October 31, had to be postponed because of heavy rains. After that, the match was thought to be played the next Saturday, but since weather forecasts were not the best for that day, the club authorities decided to host the final on Friday. But nothing is perfect in life, the forecast failed and, believe it or not, the rain due on Saturday, suddenly appeared on Friday….

So, in an afternoon that many thought as if they were in the UK Season, Ellerstina, after a very balanced match, defeated La Aguada 14-12 and won the second championship of the season, in another step which leads the boys in black to their biggest goal: the Argentine Open and the Triple Crown.

Under a cloudy sky and rainy weather, Javier Novillo Astrada scored the first goal of the game, to give La Aguada a 1-0 lead. Ellerstina answered with a goal by Pablo MacDonough and in the last minutes, brother Matias, who filled in for Juan Martin Nero, suspended due to a double yellow card, put things 2-1 for Ellerstina.

Both teams exchanged goals during a very levelled second chukker, until Javier Novillo Astrada ran alone towards the goalposts after picking the ball from brother Nacho, and scored to get a tie (3-3). Ellerstina was awarded a 40 yards penalty, at the start of the third chukker, converted byFacundo Pieres, and since then on, Ellerstina expanded their advantage to get a 7-5 lead. The boys in black remained scoreless in the fourth chukker, only Nacho Novillo Astrada scored to close the gap to 7-5 in favour of Ellerstina.

Following half time, with goals courtesy of Eduardo and Miguel Novillo Astrada, La Aguada sent things to 7-all, but in the last minute, Matias MacDonough put Ellerstina back in the lead (8-7). Opening the sixth chukker, Matias scored to give Ellerstina a two goal advantage, but a goal from Javier Novillo Astrada cut the margin to one goal, with only 30 seconds to go.

La Aguada scored twice in the seventh chukker, when Miguel Novillo Astrada gave his team their one and only lead in the match – 11-10. It won’t last much. By the end of the seventh period, the scoreboard read a 13-11 lead for Ellerstina, with goals by Facundo, Gonzalito, and Pablo MacDonough.

Under heavy drizzle, the match was decided in the last chukker, which only has two goals – a penalty converted by Facundo to secure the result, and one from the field by Eduardo Novillo Astrada Jr. Ellerstina claimed the Hurlingham Open, and now, more than ever, the dream of the Triple Crown for the boys in black is even closer.