Kusum Arora

Tribune News Service

PNB, Delhi crushed the hopes of rivals Namdhari-XI in a closely contested match, while the encounter between Bharat Petroleum, Mumbai and Corps of Signals ended in a draw with one goal each on the second day of the 26th Indian Oil Servo Surjit Hockey tournament here. PNB won 1-0.

Both the teams played midfield hockey and failed to score from any penalty corner till the 56th minute. PNB men managed to open their account in the dying minute with the lone field goal posted by Yudhveer Singh. Till half time the score was 0-0. Earlier the match remained interrupted for 20 minutes owing to a clash between players of Namdhari-XI and PNB Delhi. Harpreet Singh and skipper Dilbagh Singh from Namdhari-XI and Damandeep Singh and skipper Shamsher Singh of PNB, Delhi were given marching orders by umpire Suresh Bhatia.

In another match, Signals took the lead in the 17th minute. The Signals men scored a penalty corner in the 33rd minute but failed to score. Bharat Petroleum men consolidated its lead with field goal posted by Amar Aiyamma in the 29th minute. Till half time, the score was 1-1. Though, the second half was goalless but the Signals men kept on the pressure and mounted several attacks on the Bharat Petroleum men.