PTJan/Feb 2010 p22-27 Open YC JM PJ 22/1/10 10:49 Page 2
La Dolfina reaffirmed their position
as the dream-team of the noughties,
seeing off Triple Crown hopefuls and
arch-rivals Ellerstina at Palermo in a
riveting extra chukka, says James Mullan
ore rain. More delays. Another tight final. Another extra
M
chukka. There was a familiar feel at Palermo this December
but, just like watching the latest Richard Curtis romantic
comedy starring a foppish Hugh Grant, the experience of déjà
vu itself rarely leaves you feeling disappointed. It’s what you
came for. And, sure enough, the world’s top players once again produced a
passionate exhibition of horsemanship and scored some terrific goals as the
final adopted its customary procession towards extra-time, when Mariano
Aguerre landed the decisive strike for La Dolfina to break Ellerstina hearts, and
win the title 17-16.
However, despite the knowledge that the first Triple Crown contest in history
between two 40-goal sides made it – on paper – the greatest quality polo final
of all time, there was also a lingering feeling of impatience amongst spectators
in the early exchanges. You sensed the communal anticipation that the game
would once again be settled in a sudden-death chukka, so much so that at
times one couldn’t help wondering why they bothered playing the first six or
seven chukkas at all.
It meant that, though the action en route to the grand finale was of a
predictably high and enjoyable quality, at times it also took on a prosaic
significance. It was as though the players themselves knew exactly where the X
22 January/February 2010 www.polotimes.co.uk
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