LAHORE, Jan 5: Six goals by Azhar Ali enabled Free Lancers to win the New Year Cup polo tournament, defeating Meadowlea 9-6 in the final on Sunday.

Free Lancers who maintained a wide lead in the first two chukkers were only, really challenged in the third Chukker when Meadowlea managed to equalise 5-5. But Azhar slammed two more quick goals with Hussain Iftikhar adding a goal to make it 8-5 before the chukker ended.

The winners came out with 2-1 lead at the end of the first chukker with Usman Hai and Azhar scoring a goal each. Agha Murtaza netted a goal for the losers.

Azhar struck two more goals while Hamid Ali one to give Lancers 5-3 lead on the completion of the second chukker. Isfandyar Pataudi who scored three goals for the losers, scored two goals in this chukker. In the third chukker, Saqib Khakwani scored back to back goals for Meadowlea to make the score five-all before Azhar excelled.

Azhar added his sixth goal in the final chukker, while Isfandyar scored his third for the losers in vain.

Earlier, Taimur Mawaz Khan, Sattar Niazi and Ahmed Ali Tiwana scored three goals each to enable ZPF to thrash Millat Tractors 9- 2 to secure second position. Mujahid Omer and Omer Minhas added a goal each for the losers.