MUMBAI, DECEMBER 22: Dogged fighters Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, nosed out Western Railway 7-5 via the tie-breaker to enter the final of the All-India Inter-Railway hockey championship at the Mahindra Stadium, Churchgate, today.RCF were down 1-2 at half-time, were trailing 1-3 at one stage in the second-half before they rallied to make it 3-3 and then won the `stroke' duel by converting four strokes, after the 15-minute extra-time period ended goalless.RCF will now take on defending champions Northern Railway. The latter strolled to a 6-0 triumph after leading 3-0 lead at the interval, against a hapless North-Eastern Railway in the first semi-final played earlier in the evening.Western were off to a fine start when their full-back Sylvania Toppo gave them the lead by converting their opening penalty-corner in the third minute. She beat RCF goalkeeper Atwari Munda with a resounding shot to the latter's right.RCF restored parity in the 13th minute. Captain and inside-left Jyoti S Kullu neatly deflected home following a stiff free hit by half-back Rajwant Kaur.Western were then awarded two strokes when defender Shashi Bala first stick-checked Shanghai Chanu when the latter was well-placed to score and next, Shashi stopped the ball with her foot on the goalline after a Chanu top-of-the-circle try beat goalkeeper Atwari. Western's Surajlatha Devi pushed the first stroke on the upright, while Mamta Kharab scored the second with a scoop to the top corner of the goal on goalkeeeper Atwari's right.After the change of ends, Western made it 3-1 in the 39th minute. Chanu scored with a shot from the top of the circle after receiving a well-measured cross from the left by Paulina Surin.Western must have just rested their oars when they were rocked by two penalty-corner goals within a span of five minutes, commencing in the 44th minute by the Kapurthala side. First, Renu Bala drove home hard and true and her second try in the 50th minute, saw Jyoti neatly deflecting the ball to the roof to make it 3-3.In the tie-breaker, Rajwant Kaur, Jyoti Kullu, Sarika and Mukta Xalco scored in the that order for RCF. Only Surajlatha Devi and Pakpi Devi were on target for Western.In the earlier game, Northern Railway took the lead in the fifth minute through Kamal Dalal in the fifth minute. Pritam Rani consolated their position after beating three defenders and scoring and Sandeep Kuar made it 3-0 after converting their third penalty-corner.In the second-half, Pritam scored her second goal and then Manjinder Kaur struck twice to complete the rout.
