Polo: Craig Millar, Kimoi Moi partner to triumph in Horseman Trophy

Royal Salute team display the prestigious Lord Cranworth Trophy they lifted at Nairobi Polo Club in Jamhuri yesterday

Almost perfect start for Nairobi Polo tournament winners as Polo season begins.

Royal Salute produced class to win the Nairobi Polo tournament's Horseman Trophy at Nairobi Polo Club (NPC) yesterday.

The champions showed grit in their game, beating Samsung Curve 18-16 to lift the coveted trophy during the three-day contest.

Royal Salute captain and handicap three Craig Millar, who is a son of legendary polo ace Gordy Millar, was in an imperious form as he guided his side to victory.

The leg, which was fiercely contested, began with Royal Salute leading 13-10 from Saturday results.

Millar led like the true captain he is, scoring the opening chukka before Samsung Curve replied through Tarquin Gross. The chukka ended 14-11 in Royal Salute's favour.

Second chukka was a goal-fest with Raphael Nzomo's Samsung Curve scoring four times. Tarquin Gross scored twice, while NPC chairman Phillip Arungah and Tiva Gross scored once each.

Craig and Kimoi Moi then scored one goal each for Royal Salute to keep their side on a 16-15 lead before the break.

In the third chukka, complacency began to creep in for Samsung Curve. This gave the leaders some advantage as they scored twice through Mbu Ngugi and Moi to take their tally to 18-15.

The last chukka was a low-scoring affair as Royal Salute tightened their defence to keep the struggling Samsung Curve at bay.

Despite their packed defence line, Samsung Curve still managed to squeeze one goal through Gross, but it was a little too late to salvage anything meaningful. Royal Salute won the tournament 18-16.

"We really put our best foot forward in this tournament, but unfortunately, luck was not on our side. Our opponents were the better side and deserved the slim victory," Nzomo said.

Sandstorm emerged Lord Cranworth Cup champions after defeating their opponents for three days.

On their way to victory, Sandstorm, who were led by Omawakwe Arungah, a son of NPC chairman, defeated Samsung S7 10-2, MICT 8-3 and Samsung Note 5-2.

"I feel great to lift my first trophy this year. We played together as a team and everyone was fired up. "Other sides thought we were underdogs and this really gave us some advantage over them at the pitch," Omawakwe said.

Tack Rack defeated Capital Fm 10-6 and 6-3 to lift the Red Bull trophy.