Gurpreet fires four goals for BP, Indian Airlines held

New Delhi, Nov 20 (UNI) Gurpreet Singh scored four goals in a row as title contender Bharat Petroleum(BP) downed Indian Oil 4-2, while fancied Punjab and Sind Bank (PSB) routed PNB XI 4-1 in the super league of the 44th Nehru Hockey tournament here today.

In the last match of the day, several times title winners Indian Airlines, despite taking lead twice were held to a 2-2 draw by a spirited Namdhari XI.

The contest between the two petroleum teams was a thrilling affair with both the teams attacking each others citadel till the end.

However BP forwards created more chances and penalty corners and Gurpreet converted them while Indian Oil muffed their chances. The winners led 2-1 at the half time.

BP surged ahead in the 16th minute when Gurpreet Singh converted a stroke which was awarded after a goal mouthmelee following a penalty corner.

The lead was short lived as two minutes later Indian Oil equalised through International Viren(1-1). The Petroleum men again took the lead in the 22nd minute when Gurpreet converted a penalty corner (2-1).

Four minutes into the second session, Gurpreet completed his hat trick when he scored his third goal off a penalty corner (3-1).

The Petroleum men kept up the pressure and forced yet another penalty corner in the 51st minute and this time again Gurpreet made no mistake in sending the ball home(4-1).

Four minutes before the final whistle Olympian Didar Singh reduced the margin for the losers.

A second half four goal blitz saw PSB, who were trailing 0-1 till the 39th minute, to turn the table on PNB XI and emerge as comfortable 4-1 winner.

Jatinder Saoha gave PNB XI the lead by converting a penalty corner in the 34th minute but the seasoned PSB team outplayed their rivals in the second session pumping in four goals through Kulwinder Singh (39th), Sarvanjit Singh (46th), Mandeep Singh (58th) and Vikramjit Singh (69th) for a comprehensive win.

Olympian Sandeep Singh scored a brace for Indian Airlines who twice took the lead but could not hold on to it and had to share points with Namdhari XI.

Sandeep converted a penalty corner in the 38th but three minutes later International Harpal Singh drew parity for the Namdharis scoring off a penalty corner(1-1).

Sandeep again made use of the penalty corner to make it 2-1 for Airlines in the 46th minute but Gurbaz Singh equalised for the Namdharis in the 52nd minute and after that there were no goals.

UNI