MEHTA GURUKUL Academy, Dhoraha, held their nerves to edge past Anee’s Hockey Academy, S.A.S. Nagar, 3-2 via sudden death in a hard fought inaugural match of the 7th S.N. Vohra Memorial Sub-Junior Hockey Tournament being organised by the Rock Rovers Hockey Club at the Sector 42 Sports Complex in Chandigarh on Sunday .

Both the teams were equally matched and played some exciting hockey . It was Mehta Gurukul Academy which managed to forge ahead in the 12th minute when Harpreet Singh made no mistake in converting a penalty corner.

Anee’s Hockey Academy tried hard but they could not break through the defences of Mehta Gurukul Academy to score the equaliser. At the half time, Mehta Gurukul Academy were leading 1-0.

After resumption, Anee’s Hockey Academy kept trying and were rewarded with a penalty corner in the 48th minute which was converted by Harjot Singh to level the scores at 1-1. Despite making several attempts, both teams were tied at one goal apiece at the end of regulation play.

In the tiebreaker, Gurpreet Singh was the lone score for the Mehta Gurukul Academy while all other players failed to convert their strokes. For Anee’s Hockey Academy, Harpeet converted his penalty stroke into goal. After five strokes each, both the team were yet again tied at 2-2. To resolve the deadlock, sudden death was enforced in which Inder scored for Mehta Gurukul Academy to give them well deserve victory . Anee’s players failed to capitalise on any penalty stroke.

In the second match of the day , Gopal Hockey Academy , Kurali, routed unimpressive Him Gold Hockey Academy , Solan, 5-0, thanks to fine brace by Kawaljit Singh and Darshan Singh.

Him Gold Hockey Academy players who are not use to playing on Astro Turf failed to adjust to the speed and were totally outplayed by their opponents.

Taking advantage of Him Gold’s week defence, Gopal Hockey Academy went ahead in the first minute of the game through Kawaljit Singh, who doubled the lead with a fine goal in the third minute. One minute later, Manjinder Singh converted penalty corner to give Gopal Hockey Academy 3-0 lead within first five minutes of the game. Thereafter, Him Gold showed some resistance and didn’t let Gopal Hockey Academy score any more goals in the first half.

In the second half, Darshan Singh scored two more in the fag end of the game to seal the match 5-0 in the favour of Gopal Hockey Academy .