ABJECT SURRENDER BY CBDT, RAILWAYS MEN OVERCOME ARMY XI

  60TH DIAMOND JUBILEE SNBP-NEHRU SENIOR HOCKEY TOURNAMENT

Khel Today Bureau

New Delhi: Army XI, a goal up in the sixth minute, wilted under sustained pressure to bow down to the combined team of CAG XI 1-3, while CBDT minus Jarmanpreet and couple of other regular players got a 9-1 whipping at the hands of Railways Sports Promotion Board as 60th SNBP-NEHRU Seniors hockey entered the league round at Shivaji Stadium today.

CBDT, who made the grade yesterday by ousting young and hardworking Naval Tata Academy, Jamshedpur in the penalty shootout had an issue in playing two matches in as many days and faired below par. After a certain point it was a complete surrender. Their forwards today were goal shy.

In the match against CAG, Army XI started with a bang by scoring in the 5th minute through Sumit Pal in a goalmouth skirmish. They had launched a series of raids right from the word go.

CAG picked up their moorings in the second quarter with Ganesh Majji, Surya and Deepak Malik building pressure. Their repeated onslaughts bore fruit when Deepak made the most of a cross from the right to level 1-1.

They scored twice again in the last quarter through Dilipan M and Ganesh Majji. Rahul and Jobanpreet made concerted efforts for Army XI but were not able translate their raids into goals. CAG would meet Railways next.

CBDT’s was an abject surrender and with goalkeepers Tanuj Gulia/Sudhir Dixit, defenders Pranam Gowda and Mehkeet allowing a clear view of their post to Railways. RSPB’s forwards comprising captain Niyaz Rahim, Simranjot Singh, Pradeep Singh moved like a well-oiled machine.

Pradeep (2), Gursahib (2), Yuvraj (2), Pankaj, Shesha Gowda and Darshan Gawkar were the goal-getters for Railways. CBDT reduced the margin in 58th minute through Vikas Chaudhary.