Abu
Dhabi Club Faces Must-Win Clash With Defending Champions, Habtoor
Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club claimed
an 8-3 victory over Mahra Polo in the Dubai Gold Cup this evening (Tuesday) and
now face the hurdle of a decisive clash against defending champions, Habtoor
Polo before they can seal a place in the semi-final.
Ghantoot, who defeated Habtoor in a charity exhibition match on
home turf just before the start of the two-week long Gold Cup, now find the
tables turned as they go into their next game at Dubai Polo & Equestrian
Club, the home ground of Habtoor.
The Royal club has suffered mixed fortunes in this tournament,
defeating Zedan Polo in their opening round before losing to bogey team and
fellow capital-based rivals, Abu Dhabi Polo, who also turfed them out of the
Dubai Silver Cup at the semi-final stage last month.
Today’s victory will serve as a good confidence boost before the
crunch match with Habtoor, but Ghantoot’s players are taking nothing for
granted.
Ali Al Marri, Ghantoot’s Emirati player said: “We played well
today and were happy to walk away with a win, but we are a long way from the
final which is our ultimate goal in this tournament. We now look forward to our
match with Habtoor having beaten them going into the event.
“Having said that, we don’t rest on our laurels. Habtoor are the
form team in this competition, defending their trophy and playing with home
advantage and they will be very tough.”
In today’s match Mahra Polo drew first blood, but it was not
long before Ghantoot found their stride, ending the first chukker with a two
goal advantage at 3-1.
The second chukker ended 5-2 to an increasingly
confident-looking Ghantoot and by the end of the third chukker, the Abu Dhabi
side were leading 8-2. Mahra scored a consolation goal in the fourth period,
but never looked like challenging for the lead.
Ghantoot, who were in fourth place in the table going into this
match, meet third-placed Habtoor at 4pm on Friday.
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