Ravi Dhaliwal

Nabha (Patiala), January 1

It will be an encore of last year’s final as BSF and EME, both of Jalandhar set up the summit clash in the 34th All India Liberals hockey tournament played here today. In today’s matches BSF downed Corps of Signals 4-3 while EME just managed to scamper past Punjab Police 6-4.

In sport there is an adage that good teams become better beams if the players trust each other enough to surrender the ‘me’ for ‘we’. That is precisely what BSF did today as they dished out a cohesive play, which remained consistent throughout the match.

The robust looking BSF were quick to be off the block and earned a penalty stroke in the very first minute. After trapping the ball S Kujur made his way in the striking circle before he was dangerously elbowed by an onrushing defender. The umpire showed no hesitation in awarding the stroke which, however, was vociferously disputed by the rivals. Slowly the protests and the haggling died down and Dominic scooped the ball which hit the horizontal before falling an inch behind the goal line.

In a fast counter attack Signals equalised when G Dass ran down the middle showing admirable control and hit the ball towards the goal. The shot however found the foot of a defender and off the resultant penalty corner S.K Minz scored off an indirect hit to make it 1-1. BSF upped the ante and went for the kill in an attempt to take the lead. Peter Tirkey and Dominic juggled their positions and immediately there was a punch in the forward line which carried the security men to their second goal.

Peter Tirkey deftly managed to squeeze the ball into the goal after centre half S Kujur had done all the hard work. Now it was Kujur’s turn to turn the spotlight on himself as he scored a brace. In the other semifinal, Punjab Police took the lead, failed to maintain it, sending the contest into the tie breaker where EME prevailed 6-4.