Leighton wins Oba’s Cup, as battle for honours enters second week

Bowale Jolaosho and his teammates were all smiles for a job well done at the weekend following their side, Lagos Leighton Kings’ decisive victory over Lagos Caverton Riverlake in the final of the Oba Cup at the on-going NPA Lagos International Polo Tournament.

The Oba Cup is one of the trophies at stake at the two-week competition, which entered the second leg yesterday. Although the score was 8-4 ½, the battle for the trophy was fiercer than the result showed with Lagos Leighton Kings having to dig deep to overcome Lagos Caverton Riverlake at the tournament sponsored by GTBank.

Still in victory mood, the Kings were expected to battle Lagos Lintex yesterday in the final of the Open Cup, just as STL and Ibadan Jericho battled for the Silver Cup at the same venue, Lagos Polo Club, Ikoyi.

Leighton Kings, formed by Bowale Jolaosho (0), Hassan Fayad (+1), Martin Juaregi (+4) and Santiago Cernadas (+6) took control of the game from the second chukka and never held back as Cernadas thrilled the crowd, including Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos, with his amazing playing skills.

Fayad also had a memorable game scoring his team’s second and third goals to keep the Kings in the lead in the early part of the second chukka.
They were out of sight by the fourth chukka as they lead 8 – 2 1/2 at a point before seeing the match contest out via a 8 – 4 1/2 final scoreline.

Yemo Alakija (+1), Rotimi Makanjuola (+1), Tobi Edun (+2) and Diego White (+6) featured for Caverton. In the Silver Cup, Lagos STL outplayed Kano Agad 9-4 to set up a final tie with Ibadan Jericho, 7-6 winners over Lagos Insight Redefini.