Dubai: Zedan Polo and Bin Drai Polo powered their way to a winning start as the McLaren Cup got under way at the Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club (DPEC) on Friday.
Zedan defeated UAE Polo 12-9, while Bin Drai managed to get past Desert Palm 1 8-6 in the second match of the opening day of this annual competition.
Ten-goaler Pablo Mac Donough was the MVP in Zedan’s victory against the UAE. With the two skippers Shaikha Maitha Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Amr Zedan not taking the field as a mark of respect for the demise of Saudi King Abdullah, it was Mac Donough making the difference between the two sides in a tight match.
Zedan were off to a great start as they powered to an early 3-0 lead with all three goals coming from Mac Donough. But a quick response in the second chukka put the UAE back in the game and in the lead 4-3. But Zedan used the third chukka to their advantage for a slender 5-4 lead.
Mac Donough made his presence felt once again in the fourth chukka as Zedan controlled proceedings to swell their lead to 8-6. However, in the fifth and final chukka, with Lucas Monteverde pushing his team-mates, UAE Polo managed to draw level at 9-9. But, with two minutes to go it was Mac Donough once again taking control with two quick goals to hand Zedan a comfortable victory.
In the second match, Bin Drai overcame a two-goal deficit to secure an 8-6 win over Desert Palm 1. The Desert Palm foursome showed a great understanding in the first two chukkas to lead 3-1. But led by Saeed Bin Drai, the Bin Drai team scored five goals while allowing Desert Palm just one to lead 6-4. In the penultimate chukka, Bin Drai led 8-4 and despite a two-goal response from Desert Palm, they safely made it home for their first win.
