Navy wear out Western Rly

AUGUST 15: A lone opportunistic goal following a penalty corner by Ashok Kumar and a splendid display by National team and Services goalk...

AUGUST 15: A lone opportunistic goal following a penalty corner by Ashok Kumar and a splendid display by National team and Services goalkeeper RVS Prasad, enabled Indian Navy defeat Western Railway 1-0 in the final of the Bombay Hockey Association’s inaugural Nine-a-side tourney at the Mahindra Stadium, today.

The sailors were richer by Rs 10,000 while Western pocketed Rs 5,000. Rajan Lakra was adudged the player of the tournament and goalkeeper Prasad, the player of the final.

In the hardlines game, a hat-trick by spearhead Shamim Baig saw Central Railway drub Tatas 5-2. Central received a cash prize of Rs 3,000 for their win. Rishi Patel and Arif Baig were the other scorers for the railwaymen. Enrico Fernandes and Amjad Khan accounted for Tatas.

In the Veterans final, Mumbai Veterans pipped Combined Banks 2-1. JP Ekka and Ossie D’Souza netted for the winners and Anil Raichurkar for the losers. Avtar Singh was named the player of the tournament and Ossie, the player of the final.

The Navy-Westernencounter was a cracker. The match was played at a fast pace right through, there were plenty of goalmouth thrills and was fought on an even keel. Western had an edge when it came to goal scoring chances and both earned six penalty corners each.

In the third minute, Navy’s Rajan Lakra failed to connect from close when ideally placed, following a penetrating run and a defence-splitting forward pass by full-back JP Ekka who had moved up.

The action immediately swung to the other end and Western failed to make the most of three good chances that came their way. Santha Kumar and Mukhtiar Singh were the culprits on two occasions and one try by Mukhtiar was padded away by Navy goalkeeper Prasad.

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The two had a lone chance each following penalty corners in the second quarter. A none-too-hard angular attempt by Navy’s Ashok Kumar was padded to safety with ease by Western goalkeeper Sanjay Rathi and next, Navy goalkeeper Prasad confidently took care of a stiff reverse hit by Santha Kumar.

In the third and finalquarter, both the teams played their hearts out. Western relied on the individual thrusts of Mukhtiar, Santha and Chander Pal Singh, while Navy worked more as a team. Santha was twice frustrated by goalkeeper Prasad and Navy’s Ashok Kumar wasted a fine opportunity before JP Ekka’s penalty corner drive came off the the upright.

A swift counter-attack which had the goal-look for Western saw goalkeeper Prasad bring off a save following a Mukhtiar try. Navy then came up with the match-winner at the fag end with their sixth and last penalty corner. Ashok Kumar neatly scooped the ball to the roof of the net following a goalbound shot by Rajan Lakra.