It was the closest of matches but new team, St Regis, emerged the 6-5 victors over ADCB at the third renewal of Pink Polo on Saturday.
 
St Regis may have won on the end, but it was the defending title-holders, ADCB, who started best, scoring twice in the opening chukker, courtesy of Emirati player, Ali Al Marri and Argentine professional, Oscar Colombres.
 
St Regis came back in the second chukker with a goal from their Argentine player, Nicolas Petrachi.
 
But St Regis had obviously been given a stern half-time team talk and came out of the pony lines fighting for the third chukker.

Ahmed Bin Desmal, Nasser Al Shamsi and Petrachi all scored for the hoteliers, while ADCB could not reply.

The warring teams went into the last chukker all square. A penalty for ADCB, taken by Colombres put the bank team in front but a fantastic backhand from Abdullah Bin Desmal put the score at evens again.
 
And ADCB’s fate was finally sealed when Petrachi buried an extra-time penalty to give St Regis the Pink Polo title at the first time of asking.
 
Ahmed bin Desmal, from St Regis Polo Team said: “It turned out to be a very close game and it is always gratifying when you can come out on top in those situations. At the end of the day it was a penalty which decided the match, which just shows how close the two tams were and the importance of trying to stay calm under pressure and not give away easy points.
 
“We are very pleased with this result and now look forward to the rest of the season.”
 
Nasser al Dhari, from defending champions, ADCB Polo Team said: “It is disappointing to lose by such a narrow margin, but I am heartened by the fact that we started so strongly and did not let our heads drop.
 
“It really could have gone either way, but of course we wish it had gone our way. We have plenty to look forward to this season though and we will only improve for this match.”
 
The on-pitch drama played out in front thousands of spectators as well as a host of dignitaries, including Sheikh Hazza bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahayan Al Nahayan, Saeed Bin Houfan Al Mansoori, Vice-Chairman of hosts, Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, Zayd Al Saksak, CEO Health Authority Abu Dhabi and Qadhi Al Murooshid, Director General of Dubai Health Authority.
 
Pink Polo is a sporting initiative that aims to raise awareness of breast cancer throughout the UAE community.
 
To find out more visit www.pinkpolo.ae and follow us on Facebook/PinkPoloWorld and Twitter/PinkPoloWorld