Thoubal District Polo Association players (in orange) ride ahead while Meiraba Polo Club players look on at Imphal Polo ground on Thursday. Telegraph picture

Imphal, Feb. 12: Thoubal District Polo Association defeated Meiraba Polo Club with 8-6 goals to secure their semi-final berth in the 26th State-level Polo Tournament.

With the semi-final line-up drawn, Thoubal District Polo Association will play Lamyanba Pakhang Polo (A) while Khurai Polo Club will meet Chingkhei Hunba Polo Club (A) in tomorrow’s matches.

In the last quarter-final match between Thoubal District Polo Association and Meiraba Polo Club, it was great display of superb polo as both teams had renowned names in their ranks and were not easy to outride each other in the game.

Meiraba Polo Club scored the first goal from a L. Thomson Singh shot but Thoubal District captain M. Manihar Singh levelled the score in a flash and took the reign as P. Ojit Singh added another goal for Thoubal in the first chukker to take the lead.

Further in the second chukker, Thoubal captain M. Manihar Singh added fuel hitting in three goals to take 5-1 lead but equally competitive were Meiraba as H. Pakpa Singh scored one in to take the scoreline to 2-5 goals.

As the game progressed, Meiraba Polo Club charged up their ride and attacks and added three more goals from O. Roger Singh, L. Thompson Singh and H. Pakpa Singh to level the score 5-5 goal in a swift in the third chukker. However, the Thoubal players gathered their wits to chuck in another goal from P. Ojit Singh to lead by 6-5 score.

In the last chukker, luck seemed to smile on Meiraba Polo Club as O. Roger Singh scored to level the margin with 6-6 indicating some tough riding in the final minutes.

Thoubal District Polo Association, however, made a final spirited surge and were well rewarded as S. Sadananda Singh and P. Ojit Singh fetched a goal each for a well-deserved win.