The Hindu: IOB trumps ICF, sews up CHA title

Rupinderpal Singh converted three penalty corners as IOB trumped ICF 4-2 to emerge champion in the CHA Era. Sambantham senior division super-six league at Mayor Radhakrishnan stadium on Tuesday.

The first half belonged to IOB as it went one-up in the third minute, courtesy a Rupinderpal drag flick that found the top of the net off a well-deliberated penalty corner. Back-to-back chances in the same form, were to present themselves in the 15th minute, and Rupinder capitalised on one.

The 25-year old found the back of the net again a few minutes later, as IOB’s grip on the match tightened.

ICF’s initial forays into the shooting circle opened up prospects but were all scuttled.

Relief came in the form of a penalty corner towards the end of the first half which it converted to get off the mark. It was after that goal that play shifted to IOB’s half as ICF pressed on.

Pitchaimani squandered a long ball inside the shooting circle with only a defender and the goalkeeper to beat.

IOB gained upper-hand immediately after resumption, this time a sliding effort from R. Manikandan adding to the lead.

ICF managed to score once more but the rest of the match saw its initiatives getting stymied.

The result: IOB 4 (Rupinderpal Singh 3, 16, 21, R. Manikandan 37) bt ICF 2 (K. Iyyappan 31, Satish Kumar 42).

Points table (read as team, played, won, drawn, lost, points): IOB 5, 4, 1, 0, 13; ICF 5, 3, 1, 1, 10; Central Excise 5, 2, 1, 2, 7; Indian Bank 5, 1, 0, 4, 3; AGORC 5, 0, 0, 5, 0.