In yesterday’s opening match of the 2014 HH President of UAE Polo Cup, team Al Habtoor faced team UAE Polo. Straight away in the first chukka Al Habtoor took the lead with Francisco Elizalde (+7) scoring one goal and Guillemo Cuitino (+6) following shortly afterwards. Ollie Cudmore (+5) was responsible for the first goal of the UAE Polo Team during the second chukka. But team Al Habtoor continued to score and after the third chukka the team of Habtoor Al Habtoor (0) led by 4-2. UAE Polo Team did not surrender without a fight and pooled its strengths in the final chukka. They scored three more times but nevertheless had to admit defeat. In the end Al Habtoor won by a narrow margin, 6-5.
Habtoor Al Habtoor: “This was exactly the start we needed. UAE Polo Team is a very good side and gave us a close fight. I knew it was not going to be easy, but we stayed focussed and came together very well as a team. After this winning start we hope to keep the momentum going and be victorious in our next matches as well.”
In yesterday’s second match the final score was 6-5 as well. In the match between team Ghantoot Al Basti and Bin Drai the audience witnessed four intensive and highly competitive chukkas. As soon as one team scored, the other team followed immediately. In the third chukka, Ghantoot Al Basti scored two more goals and at the beginning of the fourth chukka the team led by 4-2. But then Bin Drai Polo Team flipped the switch and scored one goal after another. A total of four goals – three of them scored by Raul Laplacette (+6) – gave Ghantoot no chance and Bin Drai won by 6-5.
Mohammed Bin Drai (0): “It is fantastic to be a part of this tournament and win our first match. It was a tough game but we are pleased with our performance. We know there will be no easy games, but we will make all the effort to make them go in our favour.”
The HH President of UAE Polo Cup is being organised by the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club (GRPC) and is hosted under the patronage of HH Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the GRPC. The event is presented by Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) and the Official Partner is Al Basti Equiworld. Until January 24th a total of eight teams with a team handicap of 16-goals will compete against each other at the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, located at the gates of Abu Dhabi. As an exclusive polo media partner and new media partner of the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, POLO+10 reports from one of the most renowned and prestigious clubs in the region.
The teams:
Group A
Bin Drai Polo (+16)
Mohammed Bin Drai (0)
Tomas Iriarte (+4)
Manuel Llorente (+6)
Raul Laplacette (+6)
Ghantoot Al Basti Polo (+16)
Nasser Al Shamsi (+1)
Diego Cossio (+4)
Juan Zavaleta (+7)
Oscar Colombres (+4)
UAE Polo (+16)
HH Shaikha Maitha (0)
Tomas Gagliardi (+2)
Ollie Cudmore (+5)
Lucas Monteverde (+9)
Al Habtoor Polo (+16)
Habtoor Al Habtoor (0)
Santiago Romero (+3)
Francisco Elizalde (+7)
Guillemo Cuitino (+6)
Group B
Abu Dhabi Polo (+16)
Faris Al Yabhouni (0)
Victorio Monteverde (+3)
Juan Storni (+7)
Alfredo Cappella (+6)
Desert Palm Polo (+15)
Tariq Albwardy (0)
Matias Machado (+4)
Santiago Laborde (+5)
Alejo Taranco (+6)
Zedan Polo (+16)
Amr Zedan (0)
Luis Gagliardi (+2)
Felipe Viana (+4)
Pelon Stirling (+10)
ADCB Team from Ghantoot (+16)
Ali Al Merri (0)
Juan Zubiaurre (+4)
Facundo Sola (+8)
Pelayo Berazadi (+4)
Further information:
www.presidentpolocup.ae
www.facebook.com/GhantootPolo
twitter.com/GhantootPolo
Gallery:
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