STICK WORK: Balder Bomans of Chandigarh Dynamos dribbles past Prabodh Tirkey of Orissa Steelers. — Photo: N. Sridharan

Chennai: Neither of the two matches in the Premier Hockey League here on Saturday produced a fare that can be described as interesting. Since the rules prescribe a mandatory result, the record was complete with both matches ending from a silver goal.

Maratha Warriors prevailed over Sher-E_Jalandhar, while Orissa Steelers, playing its opening game, beat Chandigarh Dynamos by a solitary silver goal.

The only moment that proved exciting was the goal that Shivendra Singh scored for Warriors almost synchronising with the end of the first session of the extra-time. A move involving Gurbaj, Imran Warsi and Hemant Ghete culminated with Shivendra slotting the match-winner.

For all the star content, the Jalandhar outfit is yet to find the rhythm. Everything it did appeared laboured and insipid. The frontline, despite being persistent, lacked the punch, which it normally should have with players in the calibre of Tejbir Singh and Gagan Ajit Singh.

But both were phlegmatic. Once again it was the expertise of Baljit Singh Dhillon that stood out; some of his crafty passes were not used well.

Pakistan's Imran Khan performed with a measure of credit in the midfield for the Jalandhar team, as did deep defender Kanwalpreet Singh.

The Maratha Warriors, on the contrary, made fewer attempts, but were more threatening. Supported by a hard working intermediate line consisting of Gurbaj, Viren and Ajmere, the forwards were brisk though spasmodic. A more unified attack, in which Shivendra was prominent, could have given the Jalandhar defence some cause for concern.

A silver goal off a splendidly executed penalty corner by the Dutch star Tjeered Steller enabled Orissa Steelers get two points against one by Chandigarh Dynamos.

Taken on the whole, it was not a match that would lend itself to a detailed analysis, or a portrayal in eloquent terms. The Dynamos definitely missed the services of attacker Deepak Thakur, who is nursing a fractured finger. He may not be available for this chapter of the PHL, although he has been asked to take a two-week break.

Thakur's absence took away the sting from Dynamos attack, notwithstanding the fluent runs down the flank by Prabhjot Singh. Rajpal Singh was inadequate. To some extent, Ravi Pal laboured to effect a combination with Prabhjot Singh.

In the circumstances, the team looked up to Jugraj Singh's drag flicks. But the only penalty corner that Dynamos earned was saved by goalkeeper Dinesh Ekka in the third session.

Consistent

Prompted well by Bimal Lakra along with the hard working Prabodh Tirkey, the Steelers was more consistent. Birendra Lakra produced a few eye-catching runs causing enormous anxiety to the rival defence. At least one try-a reverse drive-missed the mark by inches in the second session.

The tie moved into the extra-time during which Steller produced a stunner of a flick, a la Taeke Takema, to signal victory for Steelers.

Meanwhile, Peter van Roth, Chairman, Umpires Committee, FIH, is conducting a three-day umpires clinic here. Around 26 umpires — 20 men and six women — drawn from different parts of the country are taking part.

The results:

Orissa Steelers 1 (Tjeerd Steelers) bt Chandigarh Dynamos 0. Man of the Match: Dinesh Ekka.

Maratha Warriors 1 (Shivendra Singh) bt Sher-E-Jalandhar 0. Man of the Match: Imran Warsi.

Sunday's matches: Bangalore Lions vs. Hyderabad Sultans (5 p.m.); Chennai Veerans vs. Orissa Steelers (7:30 p.m.).

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