The 84th Murugappa Gold Cup tournament got off to a grand start. Both the matches played today yielded outright results. A goody crowd turned out and the matches were equally fought despite the scoreboard movements in favour of the star teams. Before moving into the nitty gritty of the proceedings, let us have the results quickly.

September 4:

Pool A: IOC 3 (Raghunath 2, Prabhjot 1) defeat IOB 2 (Adam Sinclair 1, Muthuselvan 1).

Pool B: Air India 4 (Sandeep Singh, Bruno Lugun, Girish, Cheeyanna) defeat Army 1 ( (Arumugam 1).

Match 1: IOB Vs IOC

First match of tournament is any indicator of the things to come, then better watch out the champion teams. They might have to face stiff challenges to keep their flocks alive. ON the opening day of the 84th MCC Murugappa Gold Cup, an incisive Indian Overseas Bank almost scared the Indian Oil Corporation- virtually an Indian team with Prabjoth, Rajpal, Raghunath, Baljit Singh, Deepak Thakur, Didar and Devesh Chauhan in its rolls.

Yet it was IOB, the local League champions, who drew first blood with a smart deflection off their first penalty corner much to the delight of the local crowd. A diving Adam Sinclair connected Muthuselvan’s drive emphatically on the far side to shock IOC. The IOC was down at that moment as they went on waste six penalty corners with the experienced Raghunath taking the strike. It was PR Sreejesh who stood between Raghunath and the goal.

The 8th penalty corner came to the oilmen’s rescue enabling them to even out the score at 1-1. Raghunath flicked his team’s PC into the net. IOC’s relief was palpable as they went into the break on level terms.

Needless dribbling by Prabjoth and hanging on to the ball a bit too much by Rajpal, who otherwise sparkled with some lovely ball play, setting up moves & defence splitting passes, spoilt the rhythm.

However, the enthused IOB forwards could not utilize their chances even after cutting through the IOC ranks. Had they been bit more opportunistic, the story would have been different. Yet they sparkled and never let themselves be overawed by the presence of the stars. Rather that maybe motivated them!

At halftime, with scores leveled at 1-1 there was every sign of some good hockey to follow — the bank men did not did not disappoint. The second half, though, happened to be a battle of experienced campaigners using every trick in the trade to thwart the theirrivals gaining any upper hand. And for a change it was the champion side sweating-not a bit due to the late afternoon sunshine!

IOB shot into the lead four minutes after the lemon time. Muthuselvan found the target with a low drive. Raghunath once again posted a goal for the lead. Wasteful Prabhjot, who had failed to encash many a gilt-edged chance made his amedns with a grandstand finish in the 69th minute. IOC just converted two out of 11 penalty corners, nothing to enthuse about their win.

Indian Overseas Bank have every reason to be delighted with their display today as they played hockey the manner in which it should be played– hard, attractive yet resultant. But their loss in the first match should not deter them as they were defeated not disgraced.

IOB still has to play three more matches with pride in tact

Match 2: Air India Vs Indian Army

Star studded Air India, now inclusive of former Indian Airlines’ team after the merger, showed no mercy when they engaged the Army XI in the second match of the day. Goals for the airmen cam in regular intervals. All that the armymen could do was, to post a lone consolation goal. Air India led 3-1 at half time.

The tune for scoring was set up by none other than Sandeep Singh, who is bullish in the recent times, after his return to national team in the May Soultan Azlan Shah Cup. He converted a penalty corner early to get the things under control from the beginning and and place their rival on back foot

Despite dominiating the field, the Air India team did not slack a bit, even as AB Cheeyana scoring his goal seconds before the hooter.

Friday’s matches:
Pool A: Karnataka XI vs Mumbai XI ( 4 pm).
Pool B: BPCL vs Air India (5.45 pm).