Kusum Arora

Tribune News Service

The match between Punjab Police and Corps of Signals in progress at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar on Saturday.

In the opening match of the 26th Indian Oil Servo Surjit Hockey tournament RCF, Kapurthala edged out EME, Jalandhar 4-2, while the match between Punjab Police, Jalandhar and Corps of Signals, Jalandhar ended in a draw at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium here today.

Earlier, RCF dominated the proceedings from the word go and posted a field goal in 6th minute through Paramjit Singh. The second field goal also came from the stick of Paramjit in the 15th minute.

EME opened their account in the 22nd minute with a penalty corner scored by Biju Singh to make it 2-1. The EME men got penalty corners in the 22nd and 30th minutes, but to no avail, and thereby lost golden chances of taking a lead. Till half time the winners were leading 2-1.

In the second half once again RCF posted a field goal in the 55th minute through Deepak Sharma to make it 3-1. After the lemon break the EME men got two penalty corners in the 58th and 62nd minute but again failed to post a goal against the aggressive moves of RCF men.

EME scored a penalty stroke in the 62nd minute as Avtar Singh sounded the board from a cracking hit to make it 3-2. Later the RCF men consolidated their lead in the 65th minute when Simrandeep Singh earned a penalty corner to make it 4-2.

Meanwhile, in the other match of the day BSF, Jalandhar ran out 4-3 winners against Punjab & Sind Bank, Delhi. At half time BSF were leading 3-1 and they further consolidated their position with a second half goal to register a win. Punjab minister for local bodies Manoranjan Kalia inaugurated the tournament and announced a grant of Rs 11 Lakh for the Surjit Hockey Society for the uplift of the sport.