Sport - Hockey

Reserve Line regains title

MADURAI MAY 18. Reserve Line Sports Club, Madurai regained the Kothaiammal memorial Trophy after a lapse of two years defeating host Ever Great Hockey Club, Vadipatti by the odd goal in three in the final of the fifth annual State-level hockey tournament at the Government Higher Secondary School ground, Vadipatti near here on Saturday.

A goal scored by centre-forward Ganapathy helped Madras Regimental Centre, Wellington to defeat AGORC, Chennai 1-0 in the play off for the third place. Earlier in the semifinals, Ever Great beat AGORC 2-0 while Reserve Line prevailed over Madras Regimental Centre 7-5 via tiebreaker, after the teams shared four goals at the end of regulation time.

For Ever Great Balakrishnan (36th) and Sunder (48th) scored. In the other match, A.G. Kannan and Radhakrishnan scored for RLSC and Manoharan and Ravikumar scored for AGORC.

In the tiebreaker Kannan, D'Cruz, Radhakrishnan, Elangovan and John Pal scored for RLSC while Thirumurthi, Ganapathy and Ravikumar scored for MRC.

The final was a keenly fought match with attacks and counter attacks by both sides. The host had a slight advantage in the first half but it was Reserve Line Sports club which took the lead almost at the call of the breather, when outside-left Craig D'Cruz scored off a fine centre by Kathiravan from the right.

On resumption Ever Great piled up pressure and got the equaliser in the 41st minute. Off a pass from Suresh, Karthick took a shot at the goal, which goalkeeper Amarnath blocked. Karthick was at hand to net the rebound.

Encouraged by this goal, Ever Great attacked strongly for the winner but it was Reserve Line Sports Club, which succeeded in getting it in the 56th minute. Inside-right Radhakrishnan essayed a fine shot from the top of the circle off a pass from A.G. Kannan and goalkeeper Boopalan offered his pads. Craig D'Cruz picked the rebound and scooped into the net.

Mr. V. Chinnasamy, Deputy Mayor, Madurai Corporation presided and Mr. S.M. Sundaramurthy, Managing Director, Sri Maha Ganapathy Paper and Board Mills, Sholavandan gave away the prizes.

Best player awards: Forwards: Ramesh (FCI, Chennai) and Sounder (Adambakkam HC, Chennai); Defender: Ponraj (Thirunagar HC); Promising Youngster: Senthil (Vadipatti Hockey Academy).

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