30th Governor's Cup Polo : MPSC-C in semis as AR Polo team edge out Thangmeiband Youth PC 7-6 to reach quarters
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 27 2023:
MPSC-C pulled off a 9-6 win over Chingkheihunba Polo Club to book a semi-final berth in the 30th Govenor's Cup Invitation Polo Tournament as AR Polo Team edged out Thangmeiband Youth Polo Club by 7-6 in a closely contested match to enter quarter final.
AR Polo Team and Thangmeiband Youth PC were locked at 6-6 at the end of four chukkers and eventually the fifth chukker was brought up to decide the winners where in AR Polo Team added a goal to make the difference and set up quarter final date with X-Polo Club on March 1 .
With Chandrakumar adding a goal each in the first two chukkers and Riyakat Ali adding one in the second chukker, the AR Polo team were 3-2 ahead till halfway as Th Nongpoknganba and Alex found a goal each in the first and the second chukkers.
Thangmeiband Youth PC however came back stronger in the third chukker and Th Nongpoknganba and S Bonbon added a goal each and S Saolin scored twice to give their team a 6-4 lead.
The lone goal for the AR team in this chukker was scored by Riyakat Ali.
The AR Polo team rallied back and drew level with Riyakat Ali adding his third and Premananda scoring one in the final chukker.
Premananda then scored the winner in the deciding chukker to propel AR Polo team to the next stage.
In the first quarter final match of the tournament staged later in the day, S Abungcha struck four goals and Viking Salam hit a double to help MPSC-C knock out Chingkheihunba PC.
MPSC-C were leading by 3-1 goals in the opening chukker with S Abungcha scoring twice and M Jawan scoring one against O Rozer pulling back a goal for Chingkheihunba PC.
S Bimol, Viking Salam and S Abungcha took their turns in the second chukker to make it 6-1 before L Abinash scored Chingkheihunba PC' second goal in the last minute and made it 2-6 .
MPSC-C then completed their scoring in the third chukker with Abungcha scoring his fourth, Viking Salam adding his second and T Roshan scoring his only goal.
L Abinash also scored a goal for Chingkheihunba PC in this chukker to make it 3-9 .
Chingkheihunba PC fought back valiantly in the final chukker and added three goals- twice by O Rozer and the last by Th Kaoba but their effort could not change the complexion of the game with MPSC-C having taken a commanding 9-3 lead in the first three chukkers.
K&MM Riding Club will face IRC-A in the second quarter final match tomorrow before MPSC-B take on Tekcham Polo Club in third quarter final match.