ZONE D Final Playoffs
Auckland Polo Club, New Zealand
Feb 26 - Mar 4, 2007
 

(Images and results courtesy of the New Zealand Polo Association)

Day 4, Mar 1, 2007

India defeat Pakistan 13.5 - 11 on Day 4 of the FIP 2007 World Cup Zonal playoffs in New Zealand

Much to the delight of their supporters, the Indian polo team scored an impressive 13 ½ - 11 win against their arch rivals Pakistan. India received a ½ a goal head start as they were a 13 goal team vs. Pakistan’s 14 goal on handicap.

Pakistan started strong, dominating the scoring in the first chukka by 4 goals to one with Captain Shah Quibilai Alam scoring all their goals. India came alive in the second chukka, with their Captain Angad Kalaan finding some strong hitting form and together with Manupal Godara started to get India scoring. Pakistan scored early in chukka 2 to lead 5 -1 however, the Indian’s fought back to level the scores up at 5 all by the end of the chukka and then carried on their impressive form to take the match.

This loss puts Pakistan out of contention to qualify in the top two for the FIP World Finals in Mexico having lost three matches with only one to play.

Images:
(Above) Angad Kalaan and Saqib Khan Khafwani
(Below) Manupal Godara

India 13.5 – Pakistan 11

Pakistan: Ahmed Tiwana, Raja Samiullah, Hissam Ali Hyder, Shah Qubilai Alam

India: Vishal Chauhan, Angad Kalaan, Manupal Godara, Tarun Sirohi

Scorers:
India: Angad Kalaan – 4, Tarun Sirohi – 5, Maupal Godara – 4
Pakistan: Hissam Ali Hyder – 7, Shah Qubilai -3, Raja Samiullah – 1

South Africa defeat New Zealand 9-8 on Day 4 of the FIP 2007 World Cup Zonal playoffs in New Zealand

South Africa staged a magnificent comeback to defeat New Zealand in the dying seconds of the Federation of International Polo (FIP) World Cup Zone D play-off today in Clevedon, South Auckland.

New Zealand got off to a strong start scoring 4 goals to South Africa’s solitary goal in the first 2 chukkas, with New Zealand’s number 1, Michael Henderson, scoring 2 outstanding goals.

South Africa were initially shell-shocked by the speed and teamwork of the men in black, with New Zealand captain Craig Wilson scoring 2 penalties to take the score out to 6 -1 in the second chukka. The third chukka however, was the turning point in the game, when the young South African team started to find form and had a fortunate break with a ‘penalty 1’ ruling. This resulted in a goal being immediately awarded and the South African’s starting the play from where the penalty occurred, which was directly in front of the New Zealand goal, so the scoreboard quickly changed to only a 2 goal difference. 

In the next 2 chukkas South African’s young star Nachi du Plessis started to dominate the match with some clever stick work which resulted in him scoring 3 goals. Captain, Gareth Evans, and hardworking forward, Tom de Bruin, also scored a goal each to give South Africa a  9 - 8 win. South Africa have played 2 games and have won both.

Images:
(Both Above) Gareth Evans (SA)

South Africa 9 – New Zealand 8

New Zealand: Michael Henderson, Robert Watson, Craig Wilson, Tom Hunt.
South Africa: Gareth Evans, Nachi du Plessis, Tom de Bruin, David Jean du Plessis

Scorers:
South Africa; Nachi du Plessis – 5, Tom du Bruin – 2, Gareth Evans – 1 + penalty 1 awarded
New Zealand: Craig Wilson – 4, Michael Henderson – 2, Robert Watson 1, Tom Hunt 1