Tue 31st Mar 2026Delayed but Dramatic La Dolfina Oriental win The Copa República Argentina
Rain scuppered play in Argentina for the most significant tournament of the Autumn season, The Copa República Argentina, and the 8--25 goal competition has suffered several delays, but after a few false starts, an epic Final took place on Monday 30 March to decide the champion of one of the most competitive tournaments of the Argentine polo calendar.
Thursday 26 March saw La Ensenada Cría Emezeta and La Matera meet for the first Semi Final. La Matera started with a 3 goal handicap advantage, but this was soon surmounted by La Ensenada Cría Emezeta who managed to pull the score back to an equal 7-7 by halftime. From this point it was all equal with each side trading goals until La Ensenada Emezeta’s Juan Martin Zubia was able to seal the win and the spot in the Final for his team.
The second Semi was equally hard-fought with a similar story of a handicap advantage overturned by halftime. La Dolfina Oriental, who started with 2 goals, had to fight to regain their lead against Cuatro Viento Amanara. Pedro Chavanne was on the case however and a run of three unanswered goals from his stick in the final chukka secured La Dolfina Oriental the win and the place against La Ensena Cría Emezeta in the Final.
The story repeated itself here with La Dolfina Oriental’s Pedro Chavanne proving that it wasn’t just luck in the Semis. A strong performance from start to finish, La Dolfina Oriental dominated the field in terms of possession and attacking prowess, neutralising any and all attacking attempts from La Ensendada Cría Emezeta and making headway on the scoreboard, building on their three goal handicap advantage. La Ensendada Cría Emezeta continued to fight, but La Dolfina Oriental were relentless and despite seven goals from the stick of Juan Martín Zubia, La Ensendada Cría Emezeta were unable to overcome the goal deficit, La Dolfina Oriental running out the winners with 16 goals to 12, and achieving the title for the fifth time under the La Dolfina name.
David ‘Pelón' Stirling was named Most Valuable Player while Alejo Taranco’s Ethel Clon 14 won Best Playing Pony and Pedro Chavanne’s Monjita Ducatti earned the Best Playing Argentine Polo Pony accolade.
In the Subsidiary Final La Copa Subsidiaria Canadá, Sol de Mayo La Mariana beat Trenque Lauquen La Fe 15-11.
The Copa Republica Argentina Final Teams:
La Ensenada Cría Emezeta (18): Juan Martin Zubia (9), Manuel Sundblad (6), Antonio de Narvaez (3) & Simon Prado (0)
La Dolfina Oriental (22): Alejo Taranco (7), David Stirling (9), Pedro Chavanne (4), & Santino de Taranco (2)
Photograph: La Dolfina Oriental winners of The Copa República Argentina. By AAP
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