Tusker Malt are the 2021 Connaught Cup winners in a frenetic finale played at the Nairobi Polo Club following a tight 9-8 and a fraction win over Tanqueray with fans cheering at the stands.
Malt had handicap 5.5 Casimir Gross on fine form with the veteran hitting seven goals solo in the game.
The team with handicap totalling 11.0 were by far the more aggressive side causing all manner of attack opportunities at the opposite end with Harry Stichbury (handicap 1.5) and Megan Griffiths (handicap 1.5) contributing their bit to the goals.
Tiva Gross (handicap 2.5) was the scorer of the other goal for the team who had the third and fourth chukkas being the most active as Gross scored thrice in each run.
On their part Tanqueray, Jamie Murray on handicap 4.5 had six goals hit in a good battle of their own.
The team made the young ponies work and run across the wide pitch as they sought goals. The first chukka saw Tanqueray lead 3-1 with a double from Jamie and a solo effort by handicap 2.5 Joss Craig in what was fairly even at break.
Two goals were scored by Tanqueray in the second chukka with Jamie Murray and handicap 1.5 Will Millar with an effort as well with Jamie cropping up again with a double in the third chukka and a single in the final chukka of the absorbing match.
Meanwhile in the second tier OMT Bowl, MICT won 2 fractions to 2 goals against Tack Rack in a closely fought tie. The pair went toe to toe in most departments with most of the attacks coming through long lunged balls frontwards.
The mid-morning game that was umpired by Vishal Somaia and Johnson Asenga saw Izzy Stitchbury (handicap 0.5) and Kelvin Jumba (handicap -2) get the goals for MICT who were donning red polo jerseys while Tack Rack donning Black tops had handicap -0.5Mike Mwirigi score a brace.