The Hindu : S. Railway women rally to beat SCR

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 20, 2004

Sport

Sport - Volleyball

S. Railway women rally to beat SCR

By M.C. Raman

CHENNAI, JAN. 19. Southern Railway women rallied to beat South Central Railway, Secunderabad 28-30, 23-25, 25-21, 25-17, 17-15 in the Super League of the Nutrine Maha Lacto National volleyball championship at the Nehru indoor stadium here on Monday.

Despite a bad start Southern Railway, the defending champion, came back strongly and saved three match points (11-14) to win the crucial decider and the tie. It was an exciting finish to an encounter that was rather dull in the beginning.

The first two sets saw SCR dominating. Shazia Sheikh, Hemalatha, Latha and Tejaswini Jathi did well in attack and combined smoothly in double block.

Having taken a 17-14 lead SCR was sailing smoothly, but Southern caught up in the final stages with better spiking by Gayathri, Shiji Kurian, Vini Thomas and Geeta Raju, who was rather subdued in the first two sets. But despite taking a 24-23 and 26-25 lead Southern lost the first set as SCR fought back hard.

Even in the second set Southern Railway was unable to get its rhythm and SCR broke away after 19-all. However, in the third and fourth sets, Southern bounced back. Its net defence worked and SCR came under tremendous pressure.

It was the Chennai team's steady block that helped it to come back and make it 2-2. Geeta shone in attack. Even Vini and Gayathri, who came to the front in the decider to put some placements at 15-all, enabled Southern to come into the victory path. Nadia came back as setter and that helped Southern's recovery.

Earlier, Kochi Refineries rallied past Indian Navy 24-26, 23-25, 28-26, 25-21, 20-18. Despite its strong line-up Kochi team found it difficult to stop Indian Navy, which took a two-set lead. It was then Refineries rallied brilliantly.

Tom Joseph's lack of form and confidence and its poor defence affected the team's show. Indian Navy did not have big names, barring perhaps Shijas Mohammed. Still the team was superb in back court defence and quick counter-attack. Shijas played superbly hitting 33 shots out of 71 attempts.

It was his game that gave Navy a solid start. In contrast Tom scored only 38 shots out of 126 attempts. The decider saw a tight fight, as Navy did not succumb despite the Refineries' strong block. But Rajiv's superb block at the right time helped the Refineries clinch the five-setter over extra points.

Haryana SIDC leads the pack with 3 wins, followed by the Refineries (2-1), Navy (2-2), South Central Railway (1-1), ONGC (1-2) and Income-Tax, Hyderabad (0-3).

There was some consolation for Central Railway women, Mumbai, who beat GKM Foundation 25-16, 25-21, 25-22. At this stage, Kerala State Electricity Board is leading the women's table with two wins, followed by South Central Railways (2-0), Southern Railway (1-1), Central Railways (1-2) and GKM (0-3).

The results:

Men: Kochi Refineries bt Indian Navy 24-26, 23-25, 28-26, 25-21, 20-18; Indian Navy bt ONGC 26-24, 25-19, 19-25, 22-25, 15-13; SC Railway bt Income Tax, Hyderabad 25-19, 21-25, 25-17, 29-27.

Women: Central Railway (Mumbai) bt GKM Foundation 25-16, 25-21, 25-22.

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