Rubicon have overpowered Lintex by 9 goals to 6 1/2 to emerge winners of the President’s Cup at the just concluded Nigerian National Carnival Polo tournament on Sunday in Abuja.
The table- toppers, Rubicon, came into the final game with six points, having won all their matches and only nedded to avoid defeat to become champions.
Lintex, on their part, had three points and needed a win by all course in their final game to stand a chance of snatching the tournament’s highest prize.
The quartet of Lintex are the Dantata brothers; Sadiq (+1), Abba (+2) and Bashir (+3) combined with Chis Mckenzie, a 7-goaler from South Africa for a total team handicap of 13.
Rubicon, the current champions of the Georgian Cup, had a total team handicap of 15 with the likes of the Badamasi brothers; Abdulmalik and Idris combining well with Jamilu Mohammed and their hired assassin from Argentina, Gonzalo Bourdieu, a 6-goaler.
Two and half a goal was awarded to Lintex to even the goal difference between the teams before the start of the game.
Rubicon had the advantage and boast of the best and fastest ponnies in its arsenal.
However, it was Lintex who drew first blood through Mckenzie who also went ahead to grab his brace for a 4 1/2 to 0 goal at the end of first chukker.
Rubicon came alive in the second chukker and scored four unreplied goals of their own to cut down Lintex’s lead to half for a 4 1/2 to 4 scoreline.
From then, it was Rubicon all the way as the team’s experience and quality of their mounts began to show and the champions added five more unreplied goals for a 9 goals to 4 1/2 goals scoreline.
Lintex, however, mounted a late comeback but could only manage to score two more goals in the fifth chukker to make it 9 goals to 6 1/2 goals at the end of a gruelling encounter.
The result meant Rubicon, having garnered the maximum nine points, emerged winners of the tournament.
Malcomines of Jos finished with six points after defeating Keffi Ponnies 8 to 6 goals to settle for the runners up position.
In the Legislative Shield, Fas Agro edged out Casiva by 7 1/2 goals to 7 to emerge winners, while Casiva finished as runners up.
Rubicon 2 thrashed Golden Alchemy by 5 goals to 2 1/2 goals to emerge winners of the FCT Minister’s Cup, while Golden Alchemy finished as runners up.
Also, the Guards Challenge saw Dee-bee Farms edge out Dokaji Farms by 5 goals to 4 to emerge winners, while Dakoji Farms finished as runners up.
The tournament which began on Monday came to an end on Sunday night.
