7th National Women C'ship: RSPB beat Haryana to retain title

Rohtak (Haryana)[India], May 1 (ANI): Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) defended their title at 7th Senior National Championship 2017 (Women) 'A' Division with a comprehensive 3-1 win over Hockey Haryana in Rohtak on Sunday. In the championship match, the two teams started at an unusually fast pace, both throwing caution to the wind in a stellar display of attacking hockey. RSPB were the ones who struck first and very early with Neha scoring in the third minute to give them the lead. However, it took Hockey Haryana only three minutes to equalise with a field goal by Reet. After the early exchange of strikes, the game settled down, both teams finding their rhythm in midfield. In the 25th minute, it was the RSPB who took back the initiative again this time Navneet Kaur scoring to wrest back the lead going into half time. The teams came back into the third quarter with RSPB being cautious and controlling the midfield. In the 50th minute, Neha scored her second of the game converting a PC to extend her team's lead. It was a lead they held on to a 3-1 scoreline and their hold on the tournament for a fourth successive year. In the opening game of the day for the 3rd/ 4th place, Hockey Madhya Pradesh beat Association of Indian Universities 3-1. In a fast paced opening quarter, it was Association of Indian Universities who took the lead, Jyoti Gupta scoring in the 12th minute of the game, to kick things off. Despite Hockey Madhya Pradesh's attacking prowess, Association of India Universities held on, and went into half time in the lead. In the third quarter, Hockey Madhya Pradesh rallied together, and Shivani Singh drew them level, with a well taken goal in the 41st minute. Three minutes later, they had the lead, Neeraj Rana converting a PC in the 44th minute to take them up. From there on Hockey Madhya Pradesh were always in control, and Ritu Singh added a third to their tally in the 55th minute to give them a deserved victory and finish third. In Bhopal, at the Hockey India 7th Junior National Hockey Championship 2017 (Women) 'B' Division, Hockey Rajasthan beat Assam Hockey 5-4 in Pool C. Beena Pandey scored a brace for Hockey Rajasthan (29', 69') in their victory. In Pool D, Hockey Madhya Bharat beat Telangana Hockey 4-0. Kajal Malviya's brace (17', 33') and goals from Nandini Sikarwar (25') and Shivani Gautam (61') gave them the victory. Bengal Hockey Association beat Vidarbha Hockey Association 9-0 in Pool A. Mamoni Biswas (2', 34', 56') and Sathi Dalui (43', 48', 64') both scored hat tricks in the victory. Hockey Andhra Pradesh beat Hockey Puducherry 20-0 in Pool A. Jyothi Pilliogoila (4', 6', 33', 41') and Bhavani Madugula (10', 16', 20', 63') both scored four high quality goals in Hockey Andhra Pradesh's dominant performance. Hockey Mizoram beat Manipur Hockey 7-0 in Pool B. K Ngaihpari (9', 43', 62') scored a brilliant hat trick in their victory. Hockey Himachal beat Hockey Jammu & Kashmir 6-0 in Pool B. A brace each by Madhu (42', 63') and Lakshmi (50', 55') gave Hockey Himachal an emphatic victory. Sports Authority of Gujarat - Hockey Academy beat Hockey Bengaluru 9-1 in Pool D. A brace by Prachi Patel (8', 9') and a hat trick by Sanya Noronha (17', 32', 69') were the highlights of Sports Authority of Gujarat - Hockey Academy's victory. In Bengaluru, at the Hockey India 7th Sub Junior National Hockey Championship 2017 (Men) 'B' Division, Namdhari XI continued their dominance, beating The Mumbai Hockey Association Ltd 3-2 in a highly entertaining encounter. Goals from Hanspal Singh (18'), Princepal Singh (22') and Akashdeep Singh (35') for Namdhari XI saw off The Mumbai Hockey Association Ltd in a highly competitive match. Hockey Madhya Bharat beat Hockey Puducherry 10-1 in Pool B. Irbaz Khan, the captain of Hockey Madhya Bharat got four goals (16', 18', 69', 70') in their victory. Sports Authority of Gujarat - Hockey Academy beat Goans Hockey 2-1 in Pool B. Goals for Sports Authority of Gujarat - Hockey Academy were scored by Shyamprakash Yadav (31') and Sahil Katiyar (55'). Goans Hockey's goal was scored by Sameer Yalgar (44'). Bengal Hockey Association beat Hockey Coorg 4-3 in a high class Pool C encounter. Bengal Hockey Association's goals were scored by Siddharth Kumar (16'), Kallu Ali (20', 69') and Rabi Shankar Yadav (34'). In Pool C, Citizen Hockey XI beat Vidarbha Hockey Association 6-0. Mohd Gufran was the star of the match with a brace (32', 69') in the victory. (ANI)