RSPC and Royal Pahang to meet in International Polo Final
by Peter Ibrahim Abisheganaden. Photos by Natasha Mustapha.

Royal Selangor and Royal Pahang sealed their places in the final of the RSPC-RMPA International Polo League Tournament. Royal Pahang strolled to their third straight win, demolishing Singapore Polo Club 10 – 5 ½. Royal Selangor got the draw with Cameron Highlands that they needed to advance with the 2nd best record in group play. Thailand beat Ranhill for a place in the 3rd and 4th place play-off, which still carries points in the 3 leg league.

Singapore Polo Club, winners of the Cartier International on home ground in June, crashed to their third straight defeat. Royal Pahang were always in control, racing to a 4 – 2½ lead in the first chukka. By half-time Ignacio du Plassis and Pueblo Gienazu had Royal Pahang well ahead at 7 – 4½. They cruised home easy 10-5½ winners to seal their place in the final with the best record of three straight wins.

Royal Selangor made hard work of a luckless Cameron Highlands team. Both teams knew they were playing for a place in the final. RSPC could afford a draw, but Cameron Highlands had to win to advance.

The first few minutes of the game were cagey as RSPC tried to come to grips with Cameron Highlands’ Brazilian +7 goaler Ubarjarra Alves de Andrade jr, the stand-out player of the tournament. Better teamwork and stronger finishing led to RSPC taking a 2 goal lead through a 60 yarder and a steal by their +4 Argentine professional Juan Manuel Roman.

By the end of the 2nd chukka RSPC had a 4-0 lead, with team captain Dato’ Mohamed Moiz and Edham Shaharuddin (+4) weighing in with goals. With the match seemingly won, RSPC went into cruise control. Big mistake. Ubarjarra made them pay for their lost focus as he combined well with Kiwi Craig Wilson (+5) to claim penalties. Craig converted a 30 yarder and three 40 yarders to drag Cameron Highlands right back into the match.

Juan Roman hit a 30 yarder to give RSPC the lead again, but in the 4th chukka Bar got another foul right in front of the goal, which Craig tapped in. It was a ding-dong battle as Juan converted a 40 yarder, then Cameron Highlands’ co-patron Hiroshe Kume, the oldest player in the tournament at 62 years old, scored a very popular goal from open play to tie the score at 6-6.

The Bar-Craig combination got another foul and Craig again converted to put Cameron Highlands ahead for the first time in the match. With seconds to go in the chukka Juan stole the ball from the throw-in and raced away to the goal. For the second match in a row Cameron Highlands were caught with the last hit of the game. It finished 7 – 7 in another great match at this tournament.

Thailand Polo and Ranhill played for pride and a place in the 3rd and 4th place match versus Cameron Highlands on Sunday. Thailand received 1 ½ goals on handicap, a lead they never lost. It was 5½ – 3 at half-time, and 8½ – 6 at the final bell.

Friday’s results:
Royal Selangor Polo Club 7 – Cameron Highlands 7
Royal Pahang 10 – Singapore Polo Club 5½
Thailand Polo Club 8½ – 6 Ranhill

Polo continues today at 4:00 p.m. at the Royal Selangor Polo Club, with the 5th and 6th place match: Ranhill vs Singapore Polo Club, followed by an exhibition match of ASAP Asia’s Taipans vs RSPC Selection.

http://www.equestrian.com.my Text by Peter Ibrahim and photos by Natasha Mustapha

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