LAHORE, March 28: Eight goals by Hissam Ali Hyder including a hat trick propelled BMA Capital Army to a 12-9 win over Wak Group Diamond Paints in the opening match of the Quaid-i-Azam Gold Cup National Open polo championships on Monday.
The winners led 3-1 in the first chukker with Hissam scoring two, first with a field goal and the second through a 40-yard penalty hit. Haward Hipwood who struck three goals in the match, slammed in his first.
Chris Hyde who struggled for the losers with a tally of five goals, opened his account by cashing in on a 40-yard penalty hit.
The winners further surged ahead 7-2 in the second chukker. Hipwood scored his second after receiving an angular pass from Hissam and his third and final goal crowning a field attempt.
Hissam also scored his third converting a fine pass off Hipwood. Capt Sharhyar Munir added a goal for the winners. Hyde scored his second goal for the losers to reduce the margin.
He completed his hat trick in the third chukker by scoring back-to-back goals but only to reduce the lead to 8-4 as Hissam scored his fourth off a 60-yard penalty hit.
Hyde struck first with an under the-neck shot and then capitalised a 60-yard penalty hit with a lofted shot.
The losers further reduced the margin 9-6 in the fourth chukker when Mir Shoaib Ahmad netted back-to-back goals on field attempts.
Hissam scored his fifth for the winners. The fifth and the final chukker was full of action as six goals were scored — three by each team — to complete the tally.
Hissam scored three more to eventually complete his hat trick. Hyde, Mir Shoaib and Col. Mujahid Omar scored a goal each for the losers.
Team:
BMA Capital Army. Capt. Shaharyar Munir (2); Capt. Omar Minhas (3); Hissam Ali Hyder (4); Haward Hipwood (5).
WAK Group Diamond Paints. Mir Shoaib Ahmed (0); Col. Mujahid Omar (3), Chris Hyde (6), Umar Sadik (2).
