ONGC XI holds Bombay XI

By Our Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI, NOV. 13. Goalkeeper Harjeet Singh saved a penalty stroke five minutes before close to enable ONGC XI hold Bombay XI 3-3 in the 38th ONGC Nehru hockey tournament at the Shivaji Stadium here on Tuesday.

Just when Bombay XI looked poised for victory, Harjeet staved off Gursevak Singh's attempt in an exciting finish. ONGC had conceded the stroke after a charging full-back Balwant Singh used the back of the stick in a desperate attempt to stop a powerful cross by Romeo Albuquerque. Bombay XI had earned this stroke against the run of play.

For ONGC, inside-right Anwar Khan did most of the hard work and troubled Bombay XI, especially in the last quarter. Earlier, Anwar had made it 2-2 before helping the side earn a `stroke'. Amit Kumar, who had scored the first goal, converted from the `spot' to make it 3-3. Even in the closing stages, Anwar was instrumental in ONGC gaining two penalty corners. On one occasion, he managed to reverse-flick the ball goalwards but Bombay XI's goalkeeper A.P. Singh saved it.

Bombay XI, too, had its moments and led 2-1 and 3-2. After erasing a 0-1 deficit through Sunil Pereira in the 34th minute, Bombay XI was a different lot on resumption. It surged ahead through Joseph D'Souza's indirect penalty corner conversion and again when Suresh Pereira came up with a field goal.

Corps of Signals qualifies

Earlier, Corps of Signals qualified for the super league following a 2-2 result against Delhi XI in its concluding pool `II' league match. Naren Lakra scored for the winner.

Delhi XI, which needed a win to progress, led 2-1 before Lakra equalised off his side's sixth penalty corner in the 55th minute. Prabhakar and Raju were the marksmen for the local side.

In pool `IV', Birender Guria's last-minute strike enabled Border Security Force (BSF) force a 4-4 draw against Rock Rovers, Chandigarh. Guria's second goal helped his side gain a vital point. BSF, which led 3-2, scored the other two goals through Sushil Kumar and Mandeep Singh.

BSF played without its main striker Harbhajan Singh and Naiman Kullu. ``Both of them are injured and won't be available for this tournament,'' said BSF's coach, Kuljit Singh later.

Rock Rovers, which beat Indian Air Force 4-1 on Monday, failed to make the most of Gurpreet Singh's hat-trick. Williamjeet Singh had initiated the tally in the 17th minute.

In pool `IV', IHF Juniors scored four goals in a span of 10 minutes in the second half in its 4-1 victory over SAIL XI. Sundram Karthick, Bipin Thimaya, C. Sarath Babu and Sonu scored for the IHF side. SAIL, which held Combined Universities earlier, reduced the margin through Surjit Singh.

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