Chennai: What became transparent after the second pair matches in the Independence Cup hockey tournament on Sunday was that the coaches must work harder to fine-tune the deficient areas before the World Cup next month and the SAF Games next week. There were a plethora of goals but a genuine enthusiast missed the ingredients that make our hockey a sport of charm and style.

The India Seniors and the Development team won with a measure of comfort. The steady downpour did distract a bit and there was even a brief stoppage.

Baskaran's tactics

Quite predictably, chief coach Baskaran shuffled the Seniors around allotting Viren Resquinha the role of a pivot and moving Vikram Pillay to the right half. Igance was shifted to the usual left half slot. A marginal improvement was noticeable in mid-field play, which kept the frontline in forging a few fluent formations.

An early goal by Shivendra worked up interest, but the Seniors found the Tamil Nadu defence stiff and well organised. Alfred Asir made a goalline save off a shot by Tejbir midway through the first half, and goalkeeper Shanmugasundaram effected a splendid save from Kanwalpreet Singh's penalty corner. He even thwarted a penalty stroke from Gagan late in the match.

Plenty of goals

Gagan flicked in a rebound after halftime. Thereafter the Seniors forwards were all over the Tamil Nadu defence adding four more goals. Sandeep Singh struck two, and Halappa produced an immaculate drag flick from a penalty corner. In the final minutes, Tushar Khandekar produced the goal of the day with a thundering drive from the top of the circle, which was followed by a field goal by Halappa.

Frustration at frittering away as many as 10 penalty corners must have been a predominant sentiment for the Development team more than its tennis set like score of 6-2 against the Juniors.

Unfathomable was the persistence with Raghunath whose drag flicks lacked power, accuracy and trajectory. Only late in the first half an indirect mode was attempted. V. Raja flicked to Gurvinder whose drive was deflected into the boards by Olympian Adam Sinclair.

Raja and Sandeep Micheal caught the eye frequently creating chances but could not convert them. The resistance from the Juniors was more pronounced in the second half though the Development squad struck five goals in this session. Adam Sinclair shot into an unguarded goal after keeper Jaswinder Singh was caught napping in a penalty corner skirmish after Raghunath's drive was intercepted.

Raghunath then pumped in a penalty corner. Birender Lakra (2) and V. Raja were the other scorers in the final minutes.

Bikramjit shines

Like in the opening match loss to Tamil Nadu XI, it was Bikramjit Singh who netted both the goals for Juniors. So far he has looked the best drag flicker on view.

The selection committee members, Gurbux Singh, Harmik Singh and B.P. Govinda, headed by the IHF President, K.P.S. Gill watched the matches. The team for the World Cup will be announced on August 17.

The results: Development Team 6 (Adam Sinclair 2, Raghunath, V. Raja, Birender Lakra 2) bt India Juniors 2 (Bikramjit Singh 2); India Seniors 7 (Shivendra Singh, Sandeep Singh 2, Arjun Halappa 2, Gagan Ajit Singh, Tushar Khandekar) bt Tamil Nadu XI 0.

Monday's matches: Development team vs. Tamil Nadu XI (3 p.m.); India Seniors vs. India under 18 (4.30 p.m.).

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