HP "B" maul Chandigarh "A"

In another match Punjab `A’ defeated Haryana `B’ 11-0.

The encounter was the most exciting and closely fought so far in the meet. The teams fought tooth and nail in the regulation period. Both the teams had an equal share of missed chances. Haryana `A’ dominated the first session while Punjab `B’ had ball possession in the second half. However, the teams could not net the match-winner.

Even the tie-breaker failed to break the deadlock between the teams. In the sudden death, the scores were identical after two strokes. But, in the third one, Sandeep scored for Haryana while Punjab’s Gurbaj Singh’s weak and straight push was easily saved by Maninder Singh. Haryana A thus, emerged winners.

Earlier in the regulation time Haryana earned as many as nine penalty corners but failed to convert. However, four minutes from the hooter Damandeep’s superb hit gave Haryana 1-0 lead.

The lead was short lived as three minutes later Parveen Kumar converted for Punjab to level the score (1-1).

In the match between Himachal `B’ and Chandigarh `A’, had the former attackers not slackened their pace in the second session the margin of victory would have been more. HP earned eight penalty corners and converted the first and third.

With today’s defeat Chandigarh `A’ are virtually out of the meet. Chandigarh `A’ will face Punjab `A’ in their last league encounter.

Pulkit scored 11 goals. Vijay (2), Chetan (2), Nitin (2) and Pawan (1) were the other scorers for the team.

In another one-sided affair Punjab `A’ defeated Haryana `B’ 11-0.

Manbir Singh struck six goals (not hat-trick) while Harbinder Singh got two and Joga Singh scored one.