7th Senior National Hockey C`ship: Andhra Pradesh beat Andaman & Nicobar 8-1

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 8 (ANI): Hockey Andhra Pradesh beat Hockey Andaman & Nicobar 8-1 in their Pool B encounter to record their first victory of the ongoing 7th Senior National Hockey Championships 2017 (Men) 'B' Division on Thursday. Hat tricks by Ashok Reddy Meenakuru (5', 12', 43') and Aron Tatiparthi (17', 21', 28') sealed a comfortable three points for Hockey Andhra Pradesh. Hockey Andaman & Nicobar's goal was scored by captain Xaviar Minj (45'). In Pool A, Petroleum Sports Promotion Board beat Hockey Maharashtra 8-5. The two teams had come into this encounter with two consecutive victories under their belt, and high on confidence. In a quick start, Petroleum Sports Promotion Board scored the opener via Lalit Upadhyay (7'). The goal was cancelled out by Gaurav Nimbolkar in the 11th minute as the two teams were level after the first quarter. In the second quarter, Petroleum Sports Promotion Board ramped up a gear, slotting four goals via VR Raghunath (19'), Bikash Toppo (25') and Sumit (27', 28') to take a 5-1 lead into half time. They did not let their level drop at the restart, Raghunath (34') and Bikash Toppo (42') grabbing their second of the game with Roshan Minz adding one in the 43rd minute. Despite a fightback by Hockey Maharashtra in the final quarter, Petroleum Sports Promotion Board proved too good winning the encounter to grab three points and a place in the next round, with a game to spare. Sanjay Toppo scored a brace for Hockey Maharashtra (24', 33'). In Pool C, Central Industrial Security Force beat Sports Authority of Gujarat - Hockey Academy 4-1. Goals by Mangra Munda (10'), Harpreet Singh (24', 35') and Satish Lama (26') were enough for them to take the three points. Ruchit Patel scored the goal for Sports Authority of Gujarat - Hockey Academy with a PC conversion in the 45th minute. In Pool A's second game of the day, Telangana Hockey edged out Major Port Sports Control Board 3-2. After a goalless first quarter, Telangana Hockey were the ones who found the board first, scoring twice in quick succession via captain Ramakrishna Bodigum (23', 25') to take the lead. Sridhar Krishnamurthy's 27th minute PC conversion gave some respite to Major Port Sports Control Board as they cut the lead to one. Telangana Hockey went into halftime leading 2-1. Major Port Sports Control Board hit back in the second half, captain Digvijay Naik scoring in the 34th minute to draw them level. In the final quarter, with all to play for, the two teams went at each other without abandon. In the 56th minute, Yogesh Karipa scored the goal which would prove to be the decider, as Telangana Hockey took the three points. In Pool B, Delhi Hockey and Hockey Him played out an entertaining 4-4 draw in what was, arguably, the game of the tournament so far. The two teams traded goals in the first quarter, Delhi Hockey scoring via Parveen Kumar's PC conversion in the 8th minute, and Amit Malhotra equalising for Hockey Him. In a relatively quiet second quarter, Delhi Hockey took the lead with a 29th minute goal by Gaganjeet Singh, a goal that took them into the break in the lead. After a goalless third quarter, Hockey Him started the final period of the game raring for an equaliser. Their efforts paid off, Yadwindeer Singh scoring in the 49th minute to draw them level. Within two minutes though, Delhi Hockey wrested their lead back via a Vijay Kumar Maurya PC conversion. In the 54th minute, Parveen Kumar scored from another PC to double his tally for the game. Hockey Him did not let their hopes dim though and constantly sought to attack. In the dying minutes they got their reward, Sunil Kumar Sonkar scoring in the 59th minute. In the final minute, Randeep Singh scored the equalizer, a last gasp goal that split the points between the two teams. In Pool C, Vidarbha Hockey Association beat Hockey Uttarakhand 4-1. Hockey Uttarakhand opened the scoring in the 2nd minute with a goal by Kailash Singh Jalal. From there on, Vidarbha Hockey Association seized the initiative, scoring goals via Rahul Kalakoti (30'), Sakib Sayyed (36', 58') and Fahim Sayyad (37') to take a comfortable victory. (ANI)