White Cap win international tourney at Nairobi Club

White Cap polo Team of Casimir Gross, Gareth Evans, Tarquin Gross and Ben Stonewigg Hold trophy with Kenya Breweries Sales Director Andrew Kilonzo (centre) after winning the White Cap Kenya International Polo Championships unbeaten at Nairobi Polo club on 22nd September 2019. [David Gichuru, Standard]

White Cap are the new Kenya International Polo tournament champions.

They achieved the feat after winning their third match against Samurai 11.5-5 in a tough 14.5 goal match at Nairobi Polo Club last evening.

As a result, White Cap finished at the top of the table standings with six points from three matches but tying with Toyota from a superior goals aggregate of 26.5 goals against 23 as opposed to their arch-rivals who scored 25.5 goals against 19.5. White Cap Lite finished third after also tying with Samurai with three points from three matches after both teams won one match and lost two as the former had a superior aggregate of 21.5 goals against 23 compared to Samurai’s 21 against 25.

In the last match yesterday, Toyota dismissed White Cap Lite 10-6.5.

The handicap 14.5 Toyota side comprised of South African Guy Watson, Jamie Murray, Craig Millar and Joss Craig. Millar and Murray each scored three goals while Watson and Joss each managed one for the victors against strong opposition from a less handicap13.5 White Cap Lite team.

White Cap Lite members included handicap 5 South African Duncan Watson and the Kenya trio of Archie Voorspuy (3.5), Izzy Parsons(2.5) and Mbu Ngugi(2.5).

They replied through Watson, Parsons and Voorspuy who each scored two goals apiece under the watchful eyes of Britain’s veteran umpire Charles Seavil.

Earlier, White Cap bottled Toyota 10.5-5 to ensure the round robin tournament could be decided on goals aggregate if not other match technicalities of polo regulations in the last day of the tournament.

Despite starting the match with a low handicap 13.5 compared to their opponents handicap 14.5, White Cap showed their class.