LAHORE: BN Polo Team clinched the Gobi’s Paints-sponsored Chief Minister Polo Cup after beating Ravi Pipes by 5-4.5 in the main final played at the Lahore Polo Club ground..
Juan Maria Ruiz was hero of the final as he contributed with tremendous three goals while Babar Naseem and Saqib Khan Khakwani converted one goal each. From Ravi Pipes, which had two and a half goal handicap advantage, Bilal Haye struck both the goals.
Ravi Pipes were off to flying start as they converted a 60-yard penalty successfully to gain 1-0 lead in the first chukker as no more goal was scored by either side. BN Polo Team then made a tremendous comeback and in the second chukker and thrashed in three back-to-back goals to have 3-1 edge.
BN Polo Team maintained their supremacy in the third chukker as well as they slammed in one more goal to further enhance their lead to 4-1. The fourth and last chukker saw BN Polo Team adding one more goal in their total tally to further enhance it to 5-1 while Ravi Pipes succeeded in firing in one goal to reduce the margin to 5-2.
When the final whistle was blown, the score was 5-2 while with two and a half goal handicap advantage for Ravi Pipes, the final score was 5-4.5 in favour of BN Polo Team.
Nicholas Scortichini and Azam Hayat Noon officiated the main final as field umpires while Shah Qublai Alam was match referee.
Earlier in the subsidiary final, ASC defeated PBG Risala by 6.5-6. From ASC team, Raja Samiullah contributed with a hat-trick while Eulogio Celestino and Col Tauseef scored one goal each. From PBG Risala, which had one and a half goal handicap advantage, Nicholas A. Recaite cracked a quartet, while Captain Humair Ghazi and Ahmed Ali Tiwana hit one goal each.
Chief Minister Punjab, Sardar Usman Buzdar as the chief guest distributed the prizes and shields among the winners.
