Sports Hostel, Lucknow rout PEPSU, W Rly, C Rly also win

Meerut, Feb 24 (UNI) Westren Railway beat HA Jalandhar 2-0 while Sports Hostel Lucknow routed PEPSU 7-0 and NE Railway humbled Central Railway 4-1 on a day of one-sided affairs at the All India Invitaion Prize Money hockey tourney here today.

In the first match of the day, Western Railway and their pool B rivals HA Jalandhar displayed a defensive hockey in the goalless first half. The logjam was broken in the 48th minute when a fine field goal by Sushma Kharar gave the Railway team the lead.

Two minute later, Nishi Chavhan made it 2-0 and the Railway eves clung to their lead thereafter to seal the match.

The second tie looked rather one sided where Sports Hostel, Lucknow totally outplayed the PEPSU team to win the pool D match 7-0.

After leading the first half 2-0, the Lucknow team overwhelmed their rivals in the second half scoring five more goals. Vartika Singh and Rijuta Mallick showed some excellent skills with the stick netting braces apiece.

In the final match of the day, Central Railway registered a comfortable 4-1 victory over NE Railway. Central Railway took an early lead when Usha struck in the 12th minute. Reen Kanti soon doubled the lead converting a penalty stroke in the the 27th minute. NE Railway hit back and reduced the margin in the 34th minute.

But they ran out of steam in the second half and consumed two more goals.

UNI XC/SC DH KP1915