WSH: One way final, crown for Shers

Pune Strykers’ fairly established trait of comeback miracles did not happen when needed most on Monday. In the WSH Final, Strykers — who had the fortune of some other matches going its way to find their way to the semis — did not have it in themselves to pose even a remote of a challenge to the invincible Sher-e-Punjab.

Scoring a goal in every ten minutes from the second quarter, Shers steamrolled Strykers 5-2 in the dream final, staged amidst good crowd in Mumbai’s Mahindra stadium.

There is something special with this man, Rajinder Singh Sr. his teams always have done well, be it on international area or in domestic scene, this time it was no different. The manner his Share-e-Punjab demolished the Strykers today further accentuate his status of a successful ‘Dronacharya’ coach. At no point of time it appeared as to who will be the winners.

His team was playing its 16th match in a month, a big taxing thing, but Shers played with fresh legs and in a breathtaking pace.

So, its their fitness and finesse in finishing inside the circle that catapulted the Shers to the crowning glory.

Rajinder Singh, with his years of experience, saw to it the oldies in his side never over-step in their anxiety to outdo others, a old habit, and he has managed this with adept conservation of their energies, substituting them in appropriate moments, in short spells which made to understand the value of each playing second. So, when Gagan Ajit Singh was played in the third quarter, and he fetched two penalty corners in the only five minutes he was on the turf!

Oh,,,those penalty corners. Most of them were wasted except the first and the last out of which VS Vinaya equalized Tyron Perreira’s 5th minute stunner and then when Harpreet Singh scored the team’s fourth goal it has become almost certain the Shers are in an invincible position.

When Tyron Perreria struck early, it seemed Shers have a job on hand. It got further credit when Deepak Thakur went on to miss some sitters, unable to effect a gentle tap, or just connect the slow short balls in front of the cage.

But the same Deepak Thakur, who missed easy looking chances, posted a goal from top of the circle, and this split second stunner proved to be the game changer.

Pune Strykers thereafter, at the scoreline of 1-2 gave up. Mandeep Antil, playing at midfield instead of upfield, leaving Mathew Hotchkis to do it at upfront, gave enough elbow room for Prabhjot and Deepak duo to enter the circle at will.

Merciless they were. Prabhjot struck first of his two goals when Amit Gowda was injured and not taken away, and was writhing in pain on the backline.

Prabhjot’s second goal, a surge from midfield, straight into the left side of the circle, well ahead of chasing Gurpreet Singh is easily one of the best goals of the WSH. Prabhjot’s on the run backhander, a diagonal diamond, stunned both the custodian and the partisan crowd.

It’s a bit of sadness that a hugely competitive series, a feature which we relished since the competition was put on motion on 29th February, had to be such a one-sided affair.

And it was so, so be it.