Guard Group/Master Paints lifts Pakistan Polo Cup 2018 trophy
Guard Group/Master Paints lifted the Pakistan Polo Cup 2018 after overwhelming Samba Bank by seven goals to four and a half in the final played here at Lahore Polo Club ground yesterday.
Hamza Mawaz Khan emerged as hero of the day as he scored a quartet for the winning side while Taimoor Ali Malik once again amused the spectators with his phenominal game and winning celebrations as he slammed in two goals while Sufi Farooq converted one goal. From Samba Bank, which had half goal handicap, all the four goals were hammered by Hissam Ali Hyder.
Hissam opened the Samba Bank account by converting a spot penalty to take 1-0 which was soon doubled by Hissam, who fired in a field goal to make it 2-0. Hamza then struck a field goal to reduce the deficit to 2-1. The second chukker was dominated by Guard Group/Master Paints as they thwarted two back-to-back goals to take 3-2 lead. Taimoor Malik and Hamza Mawaz hit one goal apiece.
Guard Group/Master Paints continued their good show in the third chukker as they thwarted two back-to-back goals to further strengthen their lead to 5-2. Sufi Farooq and Hamza Mawaz this time contributed with one goal each. Samba Bank then fought back well and banged in a brace through Hissam to reduce the margin to 5-4.
The fourth and last chukker was once again dominated by Guard Group/Master Paints, who pumped in two more goals - one each by Taimoor Malik and Hamza Mawaz to take an unassailable 7-4 lead which remained intact till the final whistle.
In the subsidiary final, the one and a half goal handicap helped PBG/Remounts beat Olympia by eight and a half goal to seven. Nicholas Ruiz Guinazu was star of the day for the winning side, which had one and a half handicap advantage, as he hammered four goals while Saqib Rider struck two and Mumtaz Abbas Niazi hit one.
From the losing side, Goffredo Cutinelli scored a quartet, Ahmed Zubair Butt a brace and Abdul Rehman Monnoo a goal.
Samba Bank Chairman, Dr. Shujaat Nadeem and Guard Rice CEO, Shahzad Malik graced the occasion as chief guests while Samba Bank CEO and President, Shahid Sattar, LPC President Malik Atif Yar Tiwana, executive committee members, and their families, Samba Bank Vice President, Umar Liaquat , Guard Rice Director, Shaharyar Malik and a great number of polo enthusiasts were also present there to witness the exciting and enthralling final.
Bilal Haye and Raja Arsalan Najeeb officiated the main final as field umpires.
