The 132nd Hurlingham Open culminated in a decisive 12-9 victory for La Natividad-La Dolfina over UAE Polo, marking a significant moment in Argentine high-goal polo. This composite team, featuring the formidable talents of the Castagnola brothers, Bartolomé (10) and Camilo (10), alongside Adolfo Cambiaso (10) and Pelon Stirling (10), demonstrated a cohesion and attacking prowess that proved too much for the determined UAE side.
The early chukkers saw La Natividad-La Dolfina establish a lead, leveraging Cambiaso's tactical genius and the Castagnolas' relentless pressure. Bartolomé, on his bay mare 'Chismosa', was particularly effective in the third chukker, converting two critical penalties and orchestrating several offensive drives. UAE, anchored by the potent scoring of Polito Pieres (10) and the defensive work of Tommy Beresford (7), fought to stay within striking distance, often relying on quick counter-attacks and long passes down the offside.
The turning point arrived in the fifth chukker. With the score tight at 8-7, Cambiaso switched to his powerful grey, 'Lalita', and immediately dictated the pace. His pinpoint passes unlocked the UAE defense, allowing Camilo Castagnola to score two consecutive field goals, extending the lead to 10-7. UAE's patron, Sheikha Maitha (0), played a courageous match, but the sheer horsepower and collective experience of the 40-goal opposition were ultimately insurmountable.
While UAE showed flashes of brilliance, particularly in the sixth chukker when Pieres narrowed the gap with a spectacular neck shot, La Natividad-La Dolfina maintained control. Their ride-offs were sharper, their defensive hooks more precise, and their ability to maintain possession through multiple passes was a masterclass in modern polo. The final whistle confirmed a 12-9 triumph, a statement win that firmly positions La Natividad-La Dolfina as the team to beat heading into the Argentine Open at Palermo. The question now is whether any team can disrupt this new super-squad's pursuit of the Triple Crown.