SPORTS REPORTER
JAMMU: Hosts Jammu and Kashmir on Friday made a meek surrender after their poor show against neighbouring Himachal Pradesh in their first outing in the ongoing league round of the Fifth Hockey India Sub-Junior Men National Hockey (Division-B) Championship at K K Hakku Stadium, here.
In this one-sided contest, Himachal struck as early as in the fifth minute when skipper, Sher Singh scored through a field effort. Amar Verna brought in the second goal netting the ball in the 10th minute.
With two goals in their kitty, Himachal struck again in the 14th minute as Pankaj stood tall at the D to deflect the ball into the nets and the fourth goal came soon in the 20th minute which was a penalty corner converted by Param Jeet.
With half time scores at 4-0, Himachal Pradesh completed the unfinished job as they went on to add four more goals in the 42nd, 60th, 68th and 69th minute as they registered a convincing win 8-0 win against the hosts.
Meanwhile, in another match of the day, Bengal blanked Gujarat 9-0. Striking a field goal in the early eighth minute, Rajesh Mondal opened the account. In the 12th minute, Bengal added a field goal coming from the stick of Akhilesh Santra. Continuing with a confident performance, Bengal added the third field goal with Karan Dhanuk smartly sneaked the ball into nets in the 15th minute.
Gujarat made all efforts to possess the ball and start with their scorecard but it was Bengal which with two more field goals in the 24th and 28th minute coming from Faizan Sheikh and Rajesh Mondal respectively dominated the first half with a lead 5-0.
Other four goals came in the second half of the play through Akhilesh Santra (36th, 41st), Nadim Hossain Saikh (45th and 65th).
Meanwhile, in another scheduled league tie, Dadra and Nagar Haveli trounced Mumbai 3-1. With a goalless draw in the first half of the play, both sides played aggressive game after the breather.
It was Mumbai, who took the first lead in the 39th minute through Parneek Naik but only to find Dadra and Nagar Haveli equalising thee score through Bipin Yadav in the 58th minute. It was followed by two back to back goals coming in the 64th and 67th minute which guided Dadar and Nagar Haveli to a 3-1 win.
In another league game, Chandigarh Olympic Association registered a 10-0 defeat against Vidarbha. Madhya Pradesh also won their league engagement Madhya Pradesh defeated Uttarkhand 4-1.
FIXTURE: Gujarat V/s Citizen Hockey XI at 6 pm; Bhopal V/s Goans Hockey at 7.30 am; Himachal V/s Vidarbha at 9 am; Bihar V/s Chandigarh Olympic Association at 1.30 pm; Bengal V/s Patiala at 3 pm; Kerela V/s Puducherry at 4.30 pm.
