RCF, Shahbad play out draw

Anil Datt

Shahbad Markanda Hockey Centre, Haryana fought a pitched battle against Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala to hold them to a 2-2 draw in the women’s section on the third day of the 7th edition of the All India Guru Gobind Singh Gold Cup Hockey Tournament being organisd by the Ludhiana Sports Welfare Association at the Prithipal Singh AstroTurf Stadium at Punjab Agricultural University campus here today.

Shahbad Markanda outfit players which had won the All India Nehru Hockey Championship for schools found themselves struggling against their spirited opponents. RCF eves struck in the fourth minute through Lalre Maroi. They pressed hard to increase the lead but all their efforts were thwarted by Shahbad’s agile goalee. Shahbad Markanda reiterated and weaved some good moves. Their pressure tactics yielded the result in the 20th minute when Navjot Kaur scored the equalizer. Stung at this, RCF players exerted full pressure to gain the lead again and eventually succeeded in their endeavour in the 47th minute as Anuradha found the target to read it 2-1.