The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : Army XI thrashes Punjab Police

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Friday, Apr 09, 2004

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Sport - Hockey

Army XI thrashes Punjab Police

KOLKATA, APRIL 8. In a battle of heavyweights, former champion Army XI thrashed Punjab Police 5-1 to top pool B of the quarterfinal league of the Indian Oil Servo Beighton Cup hockey tournament at the CC & FC ground here on Thursday.

The two teams, which had made it to the semifinals on Wednesday, would await pool A champion and the runner-up, to be decided on Friday.

In a match of no bearing on the tournament, Tamil Nadu XI scored three past Bombay XI to end third in pool B behind Army XI and Punjab Police. Bombay XI ended last with an all-defeat record.

Despite the presence of current international Baljeet Singh Dhillon in the ranks of Punjab Police, the policemen allowed Army XI to dominate the proceedings right from the word go. Army XI went into the lead through a penalty corner by captain Cyprian Aind.

The second half saw a better contest with both coming up with excellent moves and counter attacks. Baljeet Dhillon inspired the team with a 44th minute strike, but Avtar Singh returned the compliments within three minutes for Army XI. From here onwards, it was Army XI which had a say in the proceedings with two more goals coming from Suresh Kumar and D. Mandik in the 60th and 64th minutes through penalty corner awards.

Tamil Nadu led in the first half with three strikes against Bombay. A sixth minute penalty corner goal was followed by a 32nd minute strike. Bombay failed to put up a concerted play and hardly troubled the opponent during the rest of the game.

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