DEVKI WIN FINAL: Nzomo injured but not before stalling Samsung Galaxy in Polo final

Despite the exit of captain Raphael Nzomo in the fourth chukka, Devki went ahead to dispatch stubborn Samsung Galaxy 4-0 to win The Moi Cup Polo Championships of the Christmas tournament at Manyatta Polo in Gilgil yesterday.

He was replaced by God Millar, who played for three minutes to the end of the match after Amref doctors ruled out Nzomo from continuing with the match and was later airlifted to Nairobi Hospital for further check-up and treatment.

Nzomo fell off his horse in an attempt to outwit his markers in the thrilling match, forcing the umpires to stop the match for several minutes.

However, his team-mates Anthony Wahome, Tom Collie and Hiromi Nzomo went on to snatch the victory from the experienced Handicap Four Samsung Galaxy team of Phillip Arunga, Chris Foot, Chloe Spoerry and Jamie Haywood.

All the four goals for Devki were scored in the first two chukkas through Collie, who netted a hat trick, and Nzomo.

Hopes of Royal Salute, who were earlier tipped to win the title, were dashed by Devki’s victory against Samsung Galaxy in the final match despite their (Royal Salute) 5.5-2 victory over Sudbury Investments.

Starting the match at an advantage of a fraction of a goal owing to their low handicap four compared to their opponents (Samsung Galaxy Handicap 4.5), Royal Salute, whose players included Mbu Ngugi, Tony Sugden, Cindy Voorspuy and Nikki Ngugi, went on the rampage to dismiss Sudbury Investments 5.5-2.

Man of the match Mbu Ngugi scored four goals while Voorspuy added the other while Martin Kesier and Jonathan Stichbury replied for the losers, whose other teammates included Gideon Moi and Rowena Stitchbury.

In the Intermediate Championships, Sprite lifted the title with maximum nine points from three matches after beating FMD 6-3.5 in their final match, having earlier also beaten Coke 5-4.5 and Tack Rack 5-3 in the initial matches in the round robin tournament.

Despite Coke hitting Tack Rack 6.5-3 in their last match of the Intermediate Championships, they (Coke) could not match the prowess of Sprite team members Ben Stonewigg, Will Millar, James Grammaticas and Izzy Stichbury, who reigned supreme in the three day tournament.

Coke Light scored a massive 12 goals against Fanta’s 10 to win the Junior Championships.

Coke Light, who made a poor start in the quest for top honours on Friday were first beaten 5-4 by Fanta on the first day of the tournament on Friday before turning tables on their opponents the following day by beating them 9-7 on the second day of the three day competition.

Yesterday, they (Coke Light) scored a further three goals to take their tally to 12.