Royal Pahang wins Malaysian Open Polo
Sunday, 19 July 2009 07:56
Royal Pahang Polo Club won the Malaysian Open Polo Tournament with a scintillating 6 - 4 1/2 win over Ranhill Polo in the final at Putrajaya on Saturday. They took their chances on a very fast match on a quick field, while Ranhill were left to rue missed chances.
Gines Bargallo was rock solid in defence for Royal Pahang. He was ably assisted by fellow Argentinean Manuel Carranza who had good game at No 3. Amran Selamat worked very hard in his man-marking role. Tengku Shazril was outstanding in the final, showiing many good touches with his flying stickwork.
Ranhill got off to the better start as Alejandro Vial-Peres gave them the lead. Manuel Carranza replied for Royal Pahang, but it was Ranhill enigmatic patron Tan Sri Hamdan who gave Ranhill a 2 1/2 - 1 lead at the end of the first chukka. 
Royal Pahang got into their stride in the 2nd chukka and while they capitalised on their chances, it was a case of Ranhill not being able to get the ball between the posts despite that attacking. Ranhill showed they were just as good as Pahang in open play, but time after time, the bounce construed to stymy them.
Royal Pahang led 5 - 2 1/2 at half-time. By the end third chukka, they had a 6 - 3 1/2 lead. By this stage the writing was on the wall for Ranhill. Ranhill pressed hard in the final chukka but Gines Bargallo was outstanding in repelling them. Huzaini Yunos got a late goal in the final chukka but it was too little, too late for Ranhill.
The field, which had seen very little rain throughout the tournament, was very active and with a lot of roll, despite a late watering. It made for a fast, open, exciting game, but not a high scoring game, still worthy of an open final.
Thailand Polo beat BRDB-Elevation 7 - 6 in a very exciting match for the Prime Minister's Cup and third place in the Malaysian Open. It was an excellent match between two very well matched teams. Thai Polo's Carlos Pando and Hernan Tasso combined very well with their patron Harald Link and Nattapong Pratumlee to eke out hard-fought win.
Martin Ravina was again outstanding for BRDB-Elevation but they had to play this tournament without 2008 Malaysian Player of the Year, Edham Shaharuddin who injured his knee while on National team duty in England in early July. BRDB's chairman Dato' Mohamed Moiz and Elevation's Satinder Garcha played this tournament. Shaik Reismann was again outstanding as a 2 goal player.
On Friday, Head Hunters defeated III Lounge 9 - 7 to take 5th place and the King's Cup, while La Sarita defeated a depleted Jogo Polo team 11 - 3 in the match for 7th & 8th places.
His Majesty Sultan Hj Ahmad Shah, the Sultan of Pahang, and patron of the Royal Malaysian Polo Association attended the matches and presented the prizes to the winning teams.
Head Hunters' +7 goaler Gaston Moore won the Jaeger-LeCoultre watch voucher as the Most Valuable Player of the Malaysian Open Polo Tournament.
BRDB-Elevation were presented with the Sultan Hj Ahmad Shah Cup for winning the 2009 RMPA International Polo League. They finished on 29 points, ahead on Royal Pahang (25.5 points) and Thai Polo (24 points). Ranhill and La Sarita tied for 4th with 18 points apiece. Debutants Head Hunters picked up 11 points, ahead of fellow debutants III Lounge with 9 points. Jogo Polo finished bottom of the league with 7.5 points.
HRH Tengku Mahkota Pahang, president of the Royal Malaysian Polo Association presented the RMPA Awards 2009:
Winner – RMPA National League 2008:Royal Selangor Polo Club: Johan Indot, Amran Selamat, Shaik Reismann, Toto
Winner RMPA National League 2009:
BRDB: Dato’ Mohamed Moiz, Mohd Zekri Ibrahim, Tengku Rohanim, Edham Shaharuddin,
Most Improved Player - Low Goal: Hafiz Jamaluddin
Most Improved Player – Medium Goal: Ameer Jumabhoy
Most Improved Player – High Goal: Mohd Zekri Ibrahim
Best Playing Patron: Toh Muda Rizal Ramli
La Nina Trophy for Best Playing Pony: Yapa, played by Benjamin Araya of La Sarita
Most Valuable Player – RMPA National League: Edham Shaharuddin
Most Valuable Player – RMPA International League: Simran Shergill
Malaysian Player of the Year: Edham Shaharuddin
Team of the Year:
III Lounge: Dato’ Razak Feroz Khan, Mohd Zekri Ibrahim, Toh Muda Rizal Ramli and Manuel Crespo
