12 goals in full swing...!!

Sunday 5th Feb saw the prologue of how the high goals are going to look like in weeks to come, the penultimate being the National Open of 14 Goals.

Gaston Moore has indeed stamped his authority, once again, on the polo canvas here at the Lahore Polo Club. He single handily dismantled a much better side (or so it seemed on paper) and shook hands, at the end of the 4 chukker drubbing, with Raul Laplacette (6), Atif Tiwana (3), Naveed Sheikh (+2) and Waseem Sial (0), all wondering what really hit them..!

Playing for Master Paints, with the two Sufi brothers (Amir & Harris) patrons (both of +1 goal each), and Saqib Khakwani (3) completing the quartet, Gaston trumpeted to his own tune from the get go. He struck home 4 goals in the 1st Chukker alone and used his patrons very well. Who coincidentally are playing rather well this season and certainly contributing far far more in both offense and defense. Gaston's long passes to Amir made it look, at one point, as if only Amir and Gaston are playing. Harris's excellent pushing of the line on to Raul Laplacette made him release a back hander on more than one occasion. With the new turning rule enforced by HPA it makes it all the more difficult for big players to hold on to the ball for long. They have to let it go pretty quickly. Harris riding on Raul's tail and making him release took 5 goals out of that play, if you know what I mean, only for Gaston to pounce on it and turn it towards home. Brilliant play there by Harris, all credit to him.

Picture 2 shows Gaston Moore and Atif Tiwana. Picture courtesy by my good friend H.R.K Niazi, an avid traveler, a witty humorist and a great polo photographer. Just don't steal his pics please.

From Monday onward, the second of the 12 goals (The Nurpur Cup) begins with most of the teams remaining the same. A quick run down of the contenders are as follows.

Master Paints - Gaston Moore and his merry men.

Bank Alfalah - Raul Laplacette and Atif Tiwana. Sameer Oberoi (+2) joins them for this week as Naveed is off to India on a private visit. Sameer is more aggressive, works harder in the field and talks less also.

Guard Filters - The only all Pakistani side (and my favorite) with young Hamza Mawaz (+2), Timmy (3), Ahmed Tiwana (3) and TM (+2). A side to watch that can cause a major upset to the big teams.

Newage Cables - AD (+1), Shaukat Malik (+2), Santiago Mendivil (4) and Shamyl Alam (4), could all do with a better result for this week.

Diamond Paints - Mir Shoaib (+1), Hassan (Commando) (+2), Bilal Haye (3) and Vieri Antinori (6), the BFF team that enjoys a pleasant evening , smiles all the time regardless of winning or losing and is the most entertaining to watch. Got the right spirit, needs to win more.

Pakistan Army - spearheaded by our Chairman polo association General Pataudi (3), pivoted by the ram rod James Harper (6) and flanked by Ahmed Nawaz (+2) and Captain Faizan (+1). Another team that needs to pull up its socks and start winning. Good expectations this week.

That just about wraps up the coming week's scheduled. Stay logged in for more update as we go along. More on the Nurpur Cup and the upcoming Junior Polo League that's also in full swing.

cheers for now.

Agha