Bhubaneswar enter Callaghan Cup final
Bhubaneswar: A six try haul by Gyana Ranjan Prusti of host Bhubaneswar helped the team to enter the plate group final by defeating Rajasthan by 75-5 points in the 7th All India Senior National Division-II Callaghan Cup-2013 Rugby Tournament at East Coast Railway Stadium here on Thursday. Gyana was well supported by Bikrant Rout and Rajib Nath who scored two try each. Other scorers were Prasan Sahu, Ratnakar Hemram, Ranjan Sahu and Rakesh Kumar Mishra of Bhubaneswar scored a try each. Kolkata Police and KISS would meet Tamil Nadu and Jammu and Kashmir in the cup semifinal matches on Saturday. Similarly, CRPF would meet Bihar in the plate semifinal. CRPF, Kolkata Police and Jammu and Kashmir defeated Chhattisgarh, Future Hope and Young Rugby Club (YRC) by 86-0, 14-13 and 102-0 respectively.
Bhubaneswar Team: Kishor Kumar lenka, Rakesh Kumar Mishra, Rajan Sahoo, Sachin Kalah, Ratnakar Hemram, Sushil Hemram, Niraj Nayak, Gayamohan Jena, Bikrant Rout,Manash Kumar Jena, Dhiren Kumar Rout, Surendra Jena, Dibay Dali, Gayna Ranjan Prusti, Nilachala Jena, Rajib Nath. Sasanka Sekhar Tripathy, Bimal Mohanty, Ranjit Hemram, Sunil Dalas, Sabar Narayan Mohanty, Prasan Sahoo, Rakesh Srichandan, Dhiren Kumar Rout (Coach), Manash Kumar Jena (Manager).
Tough game ahead for Kalinga lancers: Walsh
Bhubaneswar: It will not be an easy task to beat the Defending Champions Ranchi Rhinos in their home ground on Friday. Our team has shown a lot of progress in the last game against Delhi Waveriders and I am sure my boys will play as per planned strategy and give their best to beat the Ranchi Rhinos, said Kalinga lancers coach Terry Walsh. With the win against Ranchi Rhinos they will get 5 points and it gives them hope to vie for the 4th slot by winning forthcoming matches. Although Kalinga lancers are participating for the first time in the Hero Hockey India league but the overall performance of the newcomers has been a successful spell till now. Their last match against Delhi Waveriders’ the win by the latter cannot be slotted as an easy win, rather it was a close for both the teams. “We are looking forward to play our first game against Kalinga lancers in this tournament. Our team is trying to improve themselves compare to our last match against Dabur Mumbai Magicians. I believe with the support of home crowd we will win this game. After a slow start in the tournament Kalinga lancers have improved a lot and I can just say that one can’t underestimate any of the teams in HHIl,” Said Ranchi Rhinos coach Gregg Clark.