Polo: Five-goal Rivas stars

Published February 27, 2006

LAHORE, Feb 26: Five-goal Jose Rivas helped Bank Alfalah annex the Aibak polo cup carving out a 7-5 1/2 win against Lindt Chocolate in the final on Sunday.

The bankers took a 2-1 1/2 lead in the first chukker as Rivas slammed back-to-back goals.

Three-goal Diego Araya blasted his first for the losers, who had a half-goal handicap.

The winners maintained the lead in the second chukker, too (3-2 1/2) as Rivas fired his third.

Two-goal Sufi Muhammad Haris struck first for the losing side.

The lead remained intact for the bankers in the third chukker as both sides scored one goal each to make it 4-3 1/2.

First Hissam Ali Hyder found the target for the bankers then Araya pumped in his second for the losers.

In the eventful fourth chukker, five goals were scored, three by bankers and two by Chocolate.

Rivas added two more while Taimur Mawaz Khan chipped in with a goal.

Sufi Mohammad Amir and Diego Araya scored one each to reduce the margin.

Eight-goal Guillermo Cuitino starred in Diamond Paints 8-7 win against Punjab Rangers in the third position match.

Cuitino’s outstanding display put Diamond Paints ahead 7-4 at the end of the third chukker.

But in the fourth chukker Rangers tried to bounce back through Sattar Niazi’s hat trick. But Cuitino’s 8th goal played a vital role for his team win.

In all, Sattar contributed four goals. Kaisar Trimzi (2) and Jose Iriarte (1) were the other scorers for the losers.