Junior Polo League, 2012 Final.

From being practice chukkars for member's children, played for a few minutes before an early Sunday crowd,  the last few years have seen these transform in to a full fledged tourney called the Junior Polo League (they have their own logo also). Ranging from the oldest player at 16 to the youngest at 10 years, these boys have come a long way and have improved considerably over a short span of just two years. 

The League revolves around 12 to 14 players of various ages that compete every Sunday against each other. Between Qubilai Alam and myself, we try and make these boys learn the basic rules of the game, the plays, the shots to select, the man to mark and pretty much from the elementary to the advance. We run on foot alongside as umpires and coaches and call the plays as the game goes on. The slightest foul is blown as it's important to realize the rules of the game from the beginning. 

The Nurpur JPL tournament was played on a round robin basis with three teams competing against each other. This is for the second year running that the Noon family sponsored JPL and asked for a proper tournament than just organized chukkars. The players were rated based on age and playing ability and the names were drawn out of a hat. 

The teams were, 

NURPUR KNIGHTS.
1. Saif Noon (12 years)
2. Taimur Noon (12 years, Saif's twin)
3. Agha Hashim Ali (12 years)
4. Agha Musa Ali (14 years)


NURPUR MUSTANGS
1. Agha Adam Ali and Suleman Alam ( both 11 years)
2. Hayat Mahmood (14 years)
3. Mir Huzaifa (16 years)
4. Fateh Mahmood (13 years)


NURPUR SPURS
1. Osama Tanvir Tariq (13 years)
2. Aleem Tiwana (13 years)
3. Shah Changez Alam (12 years)
4. Sufi Haroon (15 years)


A pregame line up was presented to the Nurpur grandstand where all three teams were lined up, along with the two umpires, and the national anthem of Pakistan was played. Big moment for these young players and a proud moment for Pakistan, getting its first look at the future of this great sport. 

Here's a quick round up of the how the games went. 

Knights VS Mustangs

Knights came in a goal under from the first round and were quickly put under pressure by a blistering run by Hayat only for the ball to just miss the goal post (triangular traffic cone). An attack in reply by the Knights saw the ball crossing the back line for a knock in. This is where the game changed, Huzaifa took a knock in, miss timed it just a bit and Hashim pounced on it like a hawk and put in goal to tie the score now 1 -1. That boosted the confidence of the Knights and they were all pumped up. Musa's pass to the forwards saw Taimur Noon with a fantastic neck shot to score followed by another cheeky steal for Hashim from Hayat this time, with Saif claiming a penalty 2 (30 yard) for his team. Musa put that one in at at walk. Knights were on fire and quickly added another goal to seal the game in their favor. Mustangs were a little off and a little unlucky there. Tried to hit the ball too hard and perhaps were a bit complacent from being ahead in the first round. Good intense chukkar to watch. 

Final score Knights 4 - 1 Mustangs. 

Moment of the match - Hashim's cheeky steal at the knock in. 

Quote of the game "I forgot to put on my knee guards, can I go now ?" Fateh, right before the throw in. 

Mustangs VS Spurs

Now this was a game that was important for both teams. Mustangs had just gone down against Kinghts and Spurs needed to win this one desperately to stay in the tournament. Remember, 2 points for a win and 1 for a draw and we're playing round robin. All goals are important and its a must win for both teams. Spurs are slightly handicapped by two things, they're already down 2 goals from the first round and Shah Changez is nursing an ankle injury. The game started with a 4 - 2 in favor of Mustangs and a couple of good runs on both sides of the field quickly saw Sufi Haroon putting one in for the Spurs. Well done and a good job to close the deficit. Another good shot by Spurs, going to goal only for a line infringement at the goal mouth by their own team player. Mustangs with the penalty, long shot by Hayat, good runs and some good back handers by Aleem and Osama to keep the ball in the middle. Clever play by Fateh for the Mustangs to stop the ball and take his time to whack it through for another goal. Mustangs up 5 - 3. Spurs with another come back goal to make it 5 - 4, good play by them. This team is not giving up but a last minute dash by Mustangs for another goal that put them through to end with the whistle. 

Final score Mustang 6 - 4 spurs. 


Moment of the Match - Fateh's clever play at the back for a goal. 
Quote of the game "Hey, no one's marking me .!" Agha Adam (gleefully) to the umpire. 

Knights VS Spurs

Last game of the tournament and Spurs still have a chance to throw this tournament wide open. If they can win this then all three team will be tied on points and who knows what the goal averages will be like then. The Knights take the field again with a goal ahead leading 2 - 1 from the 1st round. Musa has his troops organized and they have a game plan ready. Got to admit that the Knights did look pretty organized and were constantly bucking each other up during the game. That's a good sign in any team. The Spurs were charged up for this game too and the players were ready for the battle. The ball thrown in and soon there was a solid 4 man formation attack by the Knights in front of the Spurs goal, lots of mallets swinging in for back handers, lots of taps missing to put the ball through and in walks Aleem's horse to calmly kick the ball in for an "own - goal". Lots of Noooooos and Aaaaaarghs from the Spurs teammates but lady luck wasn't with them today. Knights go up 3 - 1 and soon make it 4-1 to pretty much steal the fate of the game. But Spurs were still fighting on, a missed ball was quickly pounced upon by Sufi Haroon who hit a long shot at goal, Musa riding in fast to take a back hander and both mallet clash just a few feet short of goal, the ball stays there but Haroon couldn't stay in the saddle. A tumble and 'thump' he's on his back. A rather hard fall but the boy had spunk and was up again to play, ably supported by loud cheers and claps from the crowd. A throw-in in front of goal resulted with a penalty at the goal mouth for Spurs which Osama Tanvir converted. Time's up, final whistle and game over.

Final Score Knights 4 - 2 Spurs. 


Moment of the Match - Haroon & Musa's neck to neck race towards the goal. 
Quote of the game "Yay, we get a prize too..!" Suleman Alam from the pony lines. 


What a good tournament and so well played by all the teams. You win some and you lose some, but the winner in the end is always the sport of polo and in this case, the Junior Polo League. 

Sitting, L to R : Fateh, Hayat, Osama, Taimur, Changez (red cap), Saif, Aleem, Adam & Hashim.
Standing, L to R :Agha Murtaza, Tia Noon, Salman Noon, Uncle Hamid Noon, Agha Musa, Qubilai Alam & Adnan Noon

You can track them online as well on https://www.facebook.com/groups/192414020770088/

If you have any pics of the games, please send them over and i'll add them. Meanwhile below are a few grainy pics taken from a video cam. 


Cheers, 


Agha 

NURPUR KNIGHTS

Hip hip Hurray... JPL...!!

pregame line up