Continuous matches takes its toll on teams

“It was the continuous matches which took its toll,” said the Western coach Satinderpal Singh Walia.

And he went on to add, “it is sad that the best teams in the championship are taking most of the beating.”

Bit cynical, about the way the WHAM has gone about in scheduling, the Central Railways coach SR Naqvi said, “my girls did play better,” but he agreed with Walia’s statement.He rightly agreed that the Western girls outplayed his team in the physical fitness count as his girls had assembled only four days before the tournament after a break of two months.

Paulina Surin scored in the 15th minute which eventually turned out be the match winner for the Western Railways, who avenged their defeat in theinter-Services semi-finals at New Delhi.With the few spectators turning their attention towards the chemical godown fire, the physically worn out players of the teams could not come out with their best.Western Railway girls who had a slight edge over the rivals in the department at time made it look like a final match.

There was nothing constructive in the Central Railways approach, as they fumbled with the ball control and failed to reach for the long through passes. And at times when they did make it to the rival citadel, they were over ambitious which nullified their approach.

Even as the championship had reached the final stage, the want for the penalty corner conversion was still missing. The Western girls earned corners in a row – three in the first five minutes and four at the end of 48 minutes — the resultant – null.

Western rested Pakni Devi in the first 20 minutes of play, but her introduction infused some life back in the game. She combined well with Poonam Surin and the duo kept theirforwards busy with their good passes. However, it was the case of diminishing marginal utility of the game overall. And why not when they are pressed into service for four days in a row. And with the Gazell Trophy starting tomorrow, which also runs into four days, the coaches of the railway teams were skeptical about their campaign in the tournament.

Earlier, it was in the 15th minute of play when the Western Railways found the net through Surin who slammed home beating two defenders and the keeper Seema Lakra.

The Western played positional game, while their counterparts failed to click as a team. There were too many occasions when the hard working Geeta BM’s effort went abegging with nobody to take at the other end.

Twice the Central goal had a close shave, once, in each session. It was in the 26th minute, when Fatima Kujur’s free hit saw Susani Surin valiant effort miss the target by inches, and later in the second half, Lakshmi Shree’s hit saw Devi dive full length and this attempt missed theboard.

Western earned five penalty corners in the last ten minutes but all of them in vain, as the Western settled to a solitary goal win to pocket the Rs 5000 cash prize and a trophy. Central Railways were richer but Rs 2000 for the runners-up place.