The closing moments of the match found the players of La Ensenada wrapped in a calm and almost introspective sense of relief. There were embraces, pats on the back, and a few murmured words of congratulations, yet the scene lacked any burst of exuberant celebration.
The oppressive heat, combined with the demanding nature of the contest, had drained the players to the point that joy could be expressed only in quiet, measured gestures. As time passed and the team settled by the stables, allowing their bodies to cool down and their heart rates to subside, a different atmosphere slowly emerged. Genuine smiles began to appear, subtle at first and then more visible, as the magnitude of what they had achieved began to sink in.
Their 16 to 11 victory over La Dolfina II was not just a result on the scoreboard, it was a well earned moment of satisfaction, the single triumph La Ensenada carried away from this edition of the Argentine Open Championship.
The outcome reshaped the tournament landscape in several ways. La Dolfina II, unable to secure the win it urgently needed, was relegated. Like Sol de Agosto, it must now return to the grueling qualification route if it hopes to take part in Palermo next season. On the other side of the draw, the result spared La Zeta Kazak from having to compete in a tiebreaker with the team from Cañuelas. With the standings settled, the tournament now moves toward its final decisive moments. On Sunday at two o’clock, on field 2 and ahead of the Open final, the team led by Nicolás Pieres will contest the playoff against La Aguada, the most recent winner of the Cámara de Diputados Cup. The winner of that match will claim a place in the 2026 Triple Crown.
Despite the comfortable gap in the final score, the match itself unfolded with far more tension and effort than the numbers suggest. Nearly two and a half hours of polo under an unforgiving sun created a demanding environment in which every play required endurance and resilience. The game featured stretches of elegant, high quality action, but these moments were repeatedly interrupted by fouls, disputes, and collisions, each pause adding to the physical and mental wear. Even so, the small group of spectators gathered around field 2 left with the sense that they had witnessed a battle worthy of the tournament.
La Ensenada entered the match motivated by pride alone, yet that proved to be enough to inspire a committed performance. Earlier in the season the team had impressed at both Hurlingham and Tortugas, earning a notable victory over UAE Polo, pushing Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufú to tight defeats, and capturing the Drysdale Cup. They arrived in Palermo with their qualification for 2026 already assured, bolstered by the return of Guillermo Caset from injury, and hoping to challenge among the upper tier of teams. But consistency eluded them and three consecutive losses had dimmed their prospects. This final match offered a chance at redemption and they approached it with that mindset.
La Dolfina II, however, faced a very different situation. Their ambitions depended entirely on winning this encounter. True to their competitive spirit, they launched into the match with determination. The opening five chukkers reflected this intensity, producing a tight, physical contest in which space was scarce and goals even more so. La Ensenada managed to stay narrowly ahead at 5 to 4, but neither side found a rhythm that could break the match open. “We were frustrated after playing well in Hurlingham and Tortugas and not getting the results we wanted. We were already out of contention, but we wanted to leave Palermo with a better taste,” explained Rufino Bensadón, summarizing the mood within La Ensenada.
Everything changed in the fifth chukker. La Ensenada clicked into a higher gear and finally displayed the kind of polo that had characterized their stronger performances earlier in the season. All four riders contributed goals, and for the first time they carved out a significant lead at 9 to 5. Although La Dolfina II trimmed the deficit to 11 to 7 in the sixth chukker, the match remained unresolved. What followed was a spirited comeback. Led by Lucas Criado Jr, who had been the standout performer for his team throughout the tournament, La Dolfina II surged forward. With persistence and precision, they pulled within one goal at 12 to 11. Three of those goals arrived in the final two and a half minutes of the seventh period, moments heightened by long delays that amplified the tension.
The stage was set for a thrilling finish, yet the final chukker took a different turn. La Ensenada approached the closing minutes with poise and clarity. Their collective experience surfaced at just the right moment and they executed a decisive 4 to 0 run that sealed the match. La Dolfina II conceded a pair of controversial fouls that proved costly, and Caset reinforced his status as the most influential player on the field. Had he reached Palermo with more competitive rhythm, the arc of La Ensenada’s entire campaign might have taken a different direction.
“We missed having Sapo on the field and it was difficult to get the team functioning smoothly again. We were basically a new lineup that had not played together before,” Bensadón noted. “We let a few games slip away because of our own mistakes. Even so, it was a fairly balanced season and I am grateful that we were able to close it on a good note.”
Though relegated, La Dolfina II leaves the season with meaningful progress to reflect upon. Last year the team won the Cámara Cup and fell in the playoff against La Hache Cría y Polo. This season they successfully navigated the qualification process and exit Palermo with a victory over the Ulloa team, a strong showing against Ellerstina, and a battle filled with character and resilience against La Ensenada. “I think overall we had a very good season. The main objective was to qualify,” said Gonzalo Ferrari. “Because of the points system we knew we needed to win two matches.
We managed one, but the overall balance is still positive. We made it through qualification, we supported each other, we strengthened our horse string, and next year we will fight again to get back in. Hopefully the ranking system improves. Staying in Palermo is our goal.”
Extended Summary of the Match
La Ensenada and La Dolfina II ended their participation in the Open with sharply different emotions. La Ensenada found a sense of renewal through their well deserved win, while La Dolfina II felt the heavy consequence of relegation. Yet both teams played with commitment and intensity, delivering a match that added quality to the tournament’s narrative.
La Ensenada 16 vs La Dolfina II 11
• La Ensenada: Rufino Bensadón 8, Juan Britos 8, Guillermo Caset 9, Jerónimo del Carril 9, total 34
• La Dolfina II: Lucas Criado Jr 7, Gonzalo Ferrari 8, Mariano González Jr 8, Isidro Strada 8, total 31
• Progression by chukker: 0 0, 3 2, 4 4, 5 4, 9 5, 11 7, 12 11, 16 11
• La Ensenada scorers: Bensadón 3, Britos 1, Caset 5, Del Carril 6 plus one penalty 1
• La Dolfina II scorers: Criado 6, Ferrari 2, González 3
• Umpires: Martín Aguerre and Martín Pascual
• Referee: José Ignacio Araya
• Venue: Field 2 at Palermo