Kenya fall to Zimbabwe in 15-goal match

Kenya's Casimir Gross in action at Nairobi Polo Club. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Kenya failed to impress against Zimbabwe, falling 9-8 in the Titan Law Zimbabwe International-15-Goal-match at Thorn-Park Polo Club, in Harare, over the weekend.

It was the first time in four years that Kenya lost in the hands of the Zimbabweans, the last time being in 2019, in a similar competition.

Casimir Gross, who was voted the Most Valuable Player, scored three goals for Kenya, George McCorkel three, while Tarquin Gross and Craig Millar had one each.

Gross, who is the highly-ranked Kenyan player at handicap 5, scored two 60-yard penalties and one field goal, an achievement that made all the difference for the team.

"It was a tough game, but we put up a good fight considering we were not using our horses. We were unlucky in the last chukka," Gross told Standard Sports from Harare.

Despite the loss, Gros said their hosts' hospitality was fantastic.

During the match, it was McCorkel who put Kenya ahead with a double before the rest of the goals followed later.

Handicap 5 Gareth Evans, who has played professional polo in the United Kingdom and several other countries, was the Zimbabwean's marksman with five goals.

Other goals were shared between Thomas Wood and Benjamin Brown, and David Meikle.