Abu Dhabi win The President Polo Cup

abu dhabi — Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi Polo Team staged a grand rally to clinch the HH The President of the UAE Polo Cup after defeating Desert Palm 7-6 in a nerve-wracking final at the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club.

Down 6-4 at the start of the final chukker Abu Dhabi smashed in three goals without answer to stun their rivals and leave Desert Palm’s teenage stars, Camilo Castagnola and Bartolome Castagnola shocked.

Abu Dhabi were the favourites to win the four-team tournament. But a different story unfolded as the powerhouse squad that team patron, Faris Al Yabhouni, has forged, threw away the early advantage and allowed an exuberant Desert Palm to control the run of play.

The Dubai quartet, led by Rashid Al Bawardy (+2 handicap), and comprising 14-year-old Camilo (+4), his 17-year-old brother, Bartolome (+6), and the mercurial Santiago Laborde. (+6), looked to be cruising to victory with just seven minutes remaining.

However, Abu Dhabi sensationally pulled two goals back and converted a penalty with just 20 seconds remaining, to leave Desert Palm in a ‘state of shock’, and claim victory at the final whistle.

Argentine high-handicapped Alfredo Cappela Barabucci (+9) was the top scorer four the winners with 4 goals, while fellow Argentine professionals Santiago Cernadas (+6) struck 2 and Santiago Gomez Romero (+3) one goal.

Santiago Laborde led the scoring for Desert Palm with 4 goals but it was Camilo who played the game of his life while running circles around his more experienced opponents and also scored two beautiful goals.

Earlier, Ghantoot ADS Securities Polo Team beat UAE Polo Team 7-5 in a playoff match for the third place.