Al Habtoor secure convincing win

Dubai: Mohammad Al Habtoor stroked in six goals to help the Al Habtoor Polo team to an emphatic 11-7 win against the visiting Moscow Polo Club.

Played on the sidelines of the Russia Investment Roadshow being held in Dubai, the one-off match was contested for the Hatoor Moscow Polo Cup that was won by the Dubai team.

Skipper Rashid Al Habtoor received the crystal trophy from Philip Grant, General Manager of the Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club.

"They are a strong team, but we had the edge because we have been together as a team for a long time," Rashid Al Habtoor said after the match.

"This has been a wonderful experience and it would be nice to have this team come over to Russia and play against us there," added Alexis O Rodzianko, captain of the Moscow Polo Club.

The Al Habtoor team started on a blistering note with quick goals from six-handicapper Argentinean Fernando Bourdieu and Mohammad Al Habtoor in the very first minute.

But, the Russians - who also had two Argentineans in their ranks - came right back to equalise with Alejandro and Hernan Traverso scoring from close.

Rashid Al Habtoor made it 3-2 and Mohammad added his second to make it 4-2 by the end of the first chukker.

The home team kept up the pressure and Mohammad pushed in his fourth to make it 6-2 midway through the second chukker.

But Hernan got his second and Alejandro scored from a penalty to make it 6-4 by the end of the second seven minutes of play.

Two more goals were added to the tally, with Justo del Carril scoring for the home team and Alejandro completing his hat-trick for the evening.

Decisive chukker

It was the final chukker that proved decisive for the Al Habtoor team as they pulled away from a precarious looking 8-7 cushion thanks to Mohammad Al Habtoor's two quick goals.

Bourdieu then put the finishing touches on a fine victory with a goal at the fag end of the chukker to put the score at 11-7. "This is a great privilege for us to come and represent Russia in the UAE," stated Rodzianko.

"We are proud of our performance, but it was the early two goals and the late three goals that killed off the match," he added.

Speaking at the prize presentation later, Rashid Al Habtoor stated that it would be a pleasure to travel and play against the Moscow Polo Club in Russia.