Harilela prove they are The Next Level in the Thai Polo Open
Sunday, 17 January 2010 10:17
Harilela – The Next Level lived up to their name in the Mercedes Benz - B Grimm Thai Polo Open final. Nacho Gonzalez, Matthew Lodder and Hissam Hyder demolished Jogo Polo 8 -1 to score a famous victory for their patron, and birthday boy, Aron Harilela.
Both teams traded goals in the first chukka. By the end of the chukka, Harilela had a 2-1 lead, a lead that would not be challenged again in the match.
The Polo Escape horsepower of the Harilela – The Next Level team was superior and Gerardo Mazzini could do nothing for the Jogo Polo team as Nacho Gonzalez or Matt Lodder was always there to shut him down. Satinder Garcha scored the only goal for Jogo Polo
Pakistani 5 goaler Hissam Hyder scored two lovely goals in the second half as the Harilela team continued to assert their dominance. 6 goaler Nacho Gonzalez was outstanding in midfield. Matt Lodder belied his 3 goal rating with an excellent match.
It was 5 -1 by half-time of the match as all three professionals of the Harilela team got on the scoreboard. The Harilela team extended their lead to an insurmountable 7 -1 by the end of the 3rd chukka. They closed out the match with another goal in the final chukka for a famous 8 – 1 victory that birthday boy Aron Harilela will savour for years to come.
In an earlier match for 3rd place, Thai Polo defeated a gallant Royal Pahang team 7 -5. Thai Polo started very well, racing out to a 6 -1 lead by halftime. Royal Pahang mounted their customary second half come back with 4 goals in the final chukka but it was too late as Thai Polo cruised to an easy win.
RMPA 1 Malaysia won the round robin for 5th to 7th places. They beat with a 9 1/2 - 5 win over Bunga Raya 9 ½ - 5 and B Grimm Insead 7 ½ - 6. Shaik Reismann and Edham Shahruddin had good games for this debut team which also featured Tengku Shazril and Amran Selamat.
B Grimm Insead beat Bunga Raya 6 1/2 - 4 to take 6th place in the Thai Open. Bunga Raya finished with the wooden spoon.
Thanks to Nicole Grunwell and Thai Polo & Equestrian Club for the use of their photo.
