Ashbert Wins Abraka Patron's Trophy

 The Prince Albert Esiri led Raiders who were out aced by their Lagos rivals, MRS in the International Gold Cup here last year, showed strength of character, coming back from behind to edged MRS in a hotly game
to crown their effort with the most popular Abraka prize.

Backed by their fanatical home fans, the Raiders who were three goals down in the opening two chukkers, proved bookmakers right as they stormed back to clinch the trophy with a narrow margin, beating MRS 7-6 on the final count.

Decided before a full house that included top government functionaries, traditional rulers, patrons of the Abraka Turf and Country Club, Ashbert parading their English duo of Jamie Lee Hardy, Albert Esiri, Senator Toks Ogunbanjo and the legendary Howard Hipwood, earned a deserved victory that sparked off an all night celebration among their teeming fans.

MRS who had arrived Abraka as the defending champions took to an early lead, scoring in succession to take an early lead, but it was the eventual winners who had the last laugh, as Lee Hardy and Hipwood put their
exposure and experience to better use, ensuring victory on the last chucker of the intense competition that kept the crowd on its feet from start to finish.

The prestigious Easter fiesta, which galloped off on Good Friday with a selected chucker that ended 5-5, also saw the Ashton Wells quartet of Abubakar Kari, Gabriel Omale, Usman Idris and Senator Toks Ogunbanjo,
beating their Aqua Dulcis opponents to the Conservation Cup.

Inaugurated about a decade ago, the glamorous Abraka Easter polo event which a pioneering private initiative by Prince Albert Esiri, was rounded off on
an exciting note Monday, with the MRS/Ashbert team squaring up against Abraka Guards in the high stake International Gold Cup clash.