The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : CoS shocks BSF

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 08, 2004

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Sport - Hockey

CoS shocks BSF

By Our Special Correspondent

KOLKATA, APRIL 7. It rained goals in the Indian Oil Servo 109th Beighton Cup hockey tournament quarterfinal league here on Wednesday. Corps of Signals (CoS) shocked defending champion Border Security Force (Jalandhar) in the lone upset of the day. It was also a bad day for state teams as Tamil Nadu XI and Bombay XI, both bid farewell to one of the premier meets still played on grass.

After Punjab & Sind Bank routed Eastern Railway Sports Association (ERSA) 5-0 in a pool A game, the Jalandhar-based CoS showed remarkable alacrity, both in attack and defence, to win 3-2.

A first-minute goal by G. Dass off a penalty corner set the tone for the match. Despite Habil Topno neutralising the lead with a penalty corner conversion, CoS' domination was highlighted as it converted two more penalty corners.

N. Lakra scored the second in the 25th and three minutes later Rakesh Kumar scored the third.

Dour defence and counter-attacks formed CoS' strategy, as BSF could only score two minutes before close through Mangru Tirkey off a penalty corner. This result left PSB on top of the pool with six points followed by CoS and BSF with three points each. Baljit Chandi (ninth), Robi Pal (11th), Rajwinder Singh (15th and 54th) and Sharanjit Singh (20th) scored for PSB versus ERSA. The two semifinal qualifiers from this pool would be known on Friday.

Army XI and Punjab Police (PP) moved into the semifinals from pool B after winning their second consecutive matches. Army XI defeated Tamil Nadu 5-2, while Punjab Police routed Bombay XI 5-0. Tamil Nadu and Bombay bowed out of the meet and would play each other on Thursday in an inconsequential match while Army XI and Punjab Police would play for the pool championship.

The Armymen did not allow the Tamil Nadu players to find their rhythm. Tough defending and bustling attacks made the Army XI's day as they went ahead 2-0 at halftime through two field goals from Sosan Toppo (9th and 28th). S. Xalco's goal off a penalty corner meant TN was 0-3 down and almost out. Then began the fightback as Prabhakaran (49th, penalty corner) and Muthukumar (60th) enlivened the game. Being a seasoned side, Army XI hit back quickly through E. Lakra (61st) and Jagajit Singh (67th) to seal the fate of TN.

Punjab Police scored five through Daljit Singh (19th), Amit Singh (41st, 48th), Sarabjit Singh (51st) and Jaskaran Singh (67th) against Bombay.

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