BPCL defeats Namdhari, enters final

Chennai, Dec 24 (UNI) In a fast paced encounter, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Mumbai, defeated Namdhari XI, Ludhiana, by a solitary second half goal to enter the final of the 83rd All India MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup Hockey tournament held here today.

The all important goal was scored by Amar Aiyamma in the 55th minute off a pass from Olympian Sabu Varkey following an indirectly taken penalty corner.

It was a virtual treat for the goodly Sunday crowd at the Mayor Radhakrishnan stadium as both the teams displayed some vintage stuff. The exchanges were fairly even and action switched ends frequently.

While Sammer Dad, Amar Aiyamma, Tushar Kandekar and Ravi Pal drew attention with their quick sallies for BPCL, the hardworking Gurvinder Singh and Sher Singh excelled for Namdhari.

The midfield of both the teams too rose to the occasion by playing the supporting role to perfection.

Due credit to Namdhari custodian Harjinder Singh who effected a couple of good saves and withstood the onslaught from BPCL's forwards.

Such was the intensity of the contest that both the teams looked like scoring any moment but poor finishing by the forwards negated the good moves.

Winger Karamjit singh, nearly hoisted the lead for Namdhari, but his 31 st minute deflection off a free hit from Gurpeet Singh, who was the live wire in the attack, hit the post.

Minutes later Hariprasad failed to connect Aiyamma's cross near the goal line before BPCL struck after Tushar Kandekar fumbled twice from close range.

First Tushar hit straight to Harjinder Singh's pads and later tapped the ball out from near the goal post off a goal mouth melee.

BPCL, which had an edge in the exchanges, deservedly got the breakthrough when Aiyamma deflected home off a penalty corner. Sabu Varkey did the spadework and Aiyamma provided the finishing touch.

Unperturbed by the reserve, Namdhari went all out and pressed hard for equaliser, but they could not breach the well organised BPCL defence.

UNI GV AJ DH HT1807