Shoreline, Sao Polo Win Open, Dansa Cups

Lagos Shoreline defeated Lagos Caverton 9-8to emerge champions of the Open Cup while Lagos Sao Polo beat STL 5-4 1/2 to win the Dansa Cup as the first weekend of the NPA Lagos International Polo Tournament came to a colourful end yesterday.

Ibadan Megamound and Lagos Ark Polo also win the Dansa and Open subsidiary finals of the dual phase tournament sponsored mainly by GTBank and MTN.

An ambiance of love associated with Valentine’s Day filled the air at the Lagos Polo Club, Ikoyi as the Open Cup final began with Shoreline, who had a day earlier beaten Lagos Ashbert in the semifinal to clinch the Oba of Lagos Cup, falling behind as Bode Makanjuola poached from close range to open scoring but Shoreline failed to draw level as Santiago “Chino” de Estrada, a six-goaler from Argentina, uncharacteristically made a faint connection with the ball to see his 40 yarded cleared in front of goal by South African Leroux Hendriks +5.

Moments later, he was to get another 40 yard and despite a very strong hit, the ball was blocked by Englishman Jack Richardson +6 on the line

They continued to dominate play and were eventually rewarded with a goal by Juan Cruz +4 to make the score one-goal apiece at the end of the first chukka.

Hendriks scored to restore Caverton’s advantage for 2-1 and Leroux blocked yet another 40 yarder with his pony but that did not deter Shoreline, who are also parading Tunde Karim +1and Kola Karim 0, scored back-to-back goals through Chino to take the lead for the first time as the chukka came to an end.

Cruz broke away from his half and raced about 140 yards tapping the ball three times to score one of the best individual goal of the tournament. Chino, the MVP of the Open Cup, and Cruz then scored in succession as Shoreline took a commanding 6-2 lead heading to the penultimate chukka which saw Richardson pulled a goal back for Caverton off a pass from Rotimi Makanjoula +0 but Chino forced another goal to keep the four-goal lead as scores stood at 7-3. Richardson then scored for Caverton to keep their slim hope of turning the score in the last chukka.

Richardson’s goal, a long range shot from about 70 yards set the game on a knife edge with about five minutes to play and when Hendrik’s scored a 40 yarded for 7-6 it turned out to be anybody’s game but Chino came with two moments of brilliance to stretch Scoreline’s lead to 9-6.

The game eventually ended 9-8 with Richardson scoring two 40 yard goals for Caverton in the last minute.

The Dansa Cup final between the Lagos teams galloped-off with Abdulrahman Mohammed + 2 losing a 60 yarder for Sao Polo and Ibrahim “Dantala” Musa +1 took advantage off a lose ball by increasing STL lead to 2 1/2 having started the match on 1 1/2 advantage due to their handicap inferiority but Bashir Ibrahim -1pulled a goal back just before the bell sound for the end of first chukka for 2 1/2 - 1 scoreline.

Abdulmumuni Musa +2 tapped in off a shot by Abdulrahman Mohammed +2 to keep Sao Polo a goal from taking the lead but there were no further goals before the end of the second chukka.

Dantala extend STL lead again in the third chukka but Musa was on hand again to score for Sao Polo. Another goal by Musa saw Sao Polo taking an advantage for the first time as they lead 4-3 1/2 but their joy was cut by Murtala Aliyu +1 who scored from close range.

Musa converted 40 yarder for Sao Plolo to regain the lead 5-4 1/2 and it turned to be the cup-winning goal.

Lagos Ark Polo were victorious in their Open Subsidiary final clash with Lagos Dantata.

Santiago Cernadas + 6 spearheaded Ark Polo dominant performance in their 11-4 1/2 win over Lagos Dangote Polo with David Bernal-Davydenko+3 and the Awogboro brothers Tayo +1 and Kayode +1 also playing big parts in the win against Dangote which featured Adamu Yaro +2, Mohammed Dangote +1, Bashir Dantata +3 and Babangida Hassan +3.

In the first match of the day, Ibadan Megamound defeated Lagos Bonham’s 9-4 1/2 to claim the Dansa Subsidiary Cup.

Yusuf Katako +2 was the starman scoring five of the Ibadan side which also have Adeoye Ajibade -1, Jude Odewale -1 and Saidu Umaru +2 while Neil Coventry -1, Yinka Alakija 0, Glory Ebano +2, and Sadiq Dantata 0 played for Bonhams.

The second and final phase of the tournament will commence on Tuesday with three matches in the Low Cup.