NEW DELHI, November 19: The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF Blues) team found an easy meat in the visiting Sri Lankan team and, toying with their opponents, pumped in seven goals as against one in the dying minutes to begin their pool 3 campaign in the superleague of the ONGC-Nehru Senior Hockey Tournament at the National Stadium here today.Equally strong was the Air India team from Mumbai who outplayed an enthusiastic bunch of players from the Sports Lucknow for a 4-0 verdict in pool 3, while Border Security Force, fresh from their Surjit hockey title in Jalandhar, huffed and puffed before subduing a stubborn Northern Railways 3-2 in pool 4.The Sri Lankans, who played very little competitive hockey back home, found the going tough right from the start as the IHF boys went on a rampage, making fast moves down the flanks. Startled by the attacking mood of their opponents, the Lankans were caught on the wrong foot and were left with no alternative but to defend straightaway.This helped IHF boys simply bolster the forwardline with two more players from the half-line, leaving quite a gap in their defence. Yet, the Sri Lankans failed to test the IHF Blues' defence in spite of gaining ball possession and a couple of good chances. However, at the fag-end of the game, the tiring Sri Lankans breathed a sigh of relief when they managed a consolation goal after the IHF had struck seven times.Daljit Singh and Saurabh Bishnoi were the star players for IHF who moved swiftly to grab the opportunities that came their way. They always lurked around the semi-circle to make use of those passes from the flanks. But, it was Daljit who opened the account as early as in the 4th minute when he converted a stroke. Radhakrishnan made it 2-0 off a pass from the left in the 32nd minute.As the teams went in for a breather, the Sri Lankans must have felt some relief. But they never reckoned that there would more shocks in store for them on resumption. Within a minute of the start, IHF boys earned their fourth penalty corner and Bihsnoi made no mistake with his shot. Gagan Ajit Singh shot home their fourth goal in the 37th minute and within the next three minutes Gursevak Singh added one more to the tally.It was now the turn of Bishnoi to convert another penalty corner for their sixth goal and Daljit completed the rout with a crisp shot to the left of Lankan goalkeeper S.N. Ashemdeen. Towards the end, a defence lapse by IHF boys enabled Saman Vadalan score the only goal for the visitors.Air India did not have to toil against the Lucknow rivals. For, they had taken a sizeable 3-0 lead by the half-time and completed the formality with more goal in the second session. Rajesh Chauhan, Deepak Sonkhala, Davinder Kumar and Surinder Kundu were the scorers.In contrast was the match between Northern Railways and BSF. BSF had to regroup all their experience and engery in the second session to make a comeback and they did it in great style.A.P. Singh put the Railway team in the lead in the 28th minute but after that they could not make any inroad into the rival territory. After change of ends, the BSF made a few changes but the equaliser continued to elud them. In fact, the railwaymen consolidated when Rakesh Kumar struck in the 57th minute.Down 0-2, the BSF mounted on the attack and it paid immediate dividends. Peter Tirkey struck twice in four minutes, including converting their seventh penalty corner. With having restored parity, the team went on a total attack and in the next minute found the winner through Marinus Lakra. With a minute to go for the hooter, it was all over bar the shouting for Northern Railways.
