Jaypee Punjab Warriors continued their fine form and defeated Uttar Pradesh Wizards 3-2 in a keenly-contested league match to register their second consecutive win of the third Hero Hockey India league, here on Monday. The Warriors scored a goal each in the first three quarters of the match through Varun Kumar (12th minute), SV Sunil (28th) and Sandeep Singh (42nd), while VR Raghunath (7th, 53rd) converted two penalty corners for the visitors. By virtue of this win, the Warriors have consolidated their position at the top of the standings with 12 points from three games, while the Wizards have garnered three points from two matches.
But the Wizards were the dominant side on display in the opening quarter and took the early lead when Raghunath converted a penalty corner. The Warriors replied back five minutes later through Varun's penalty corner conversion to end the first quarter locked at one goal apiece. But they fought hard in the subsequent three quarters. Sunil scored a fine diving backhand goal past Wizards goalkeeper PR Sreejesh to give his side the edge at the halfway mark. Shortly after change of ends, the Warriors earned their fourth penalty corner, but Sandeep once again let go off the opportunity. But two minutes before the end of third quarter, Sandeep finally found his touch and converted Warriors' fifth penalty corner with precision to make the scoreline 3-1 in favour of the home team.
Raghunath livened up the match when he scored his second goal of the day from a set piece in the 53rd minute. Both the goalkeepers, Stockmann and Wizards' Sreejesh produced brilliant display of goalkeeping and produced numerous valiant saves to keep their teams in the match.
Ranchi hold delhi to draw
Ranchi: A spirited Ranchi Rays overcame a two-goal deficit to hold defending champions Delhi Waveriders to a 2-2 draw. The draw took Rays to seven points from three games. The Waveriders, on the other hand, have garnered four points so far, having registered their second consecutive draw in the tournament. The Sardar Singh-led outfit was held on to an identical 2-2 draw by Uttar Pradesh Wizards in their opening match of the season. Akashdeep Singh's strike in the fourth minute gave Waveriders an early lead before Danish Mujtaba doubled the scoreline in the 27th minute.
But a minute later, Nick Budgeon scored with a fierce drag flick from a penalty corner to pull one back for the Rays. The Rays came out with more purpose after the change of ends and drew parity five minutes into the third quarter through Mandeep Singh (35th), who guided the ball into the net with a vital deflection from a flick.