Date:18/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/18/stories/2007111856491800.htm

Sport - Hockey

Semifinalists spotted

MANJERI: Defending champion Thiruvananthapuram stormed into the semifinals of the 37th State junior hockey championship at the GBHSS ground here on Saturday. Thiruvananthapuram, which was held to a goalless draw by Palakkad on Friday, made the grade from Pool ‘A’ by virtue of better goal average than Palakkad.

Goals aplenty

It rained goals in the matches involving Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad. Thiruvananthapuram hammered Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha 18-0 and 19-0 respectively while Palakkad just couldn’t better Thiruvananthapuram though it won by handsome margins against Alappuzha (10-0) and Pathanamthitta (11-0). In the end Thiruvananthapuram scored 37 goals against Palakkad’s 21 goals to qualify.

Kannur topped Pool ‘B’ to qualify for the semifinals while Kollam made it from Pool ‘C’. Thrissur had already qualified from Pool ‘D’ on Friday.

In the semifinals, Thiruvananthapuram will meet Kollam while Kannur takes on Thrissur.

The results: Pool ‘A’: Thiruvananthapuram bt Pathanamthitta 18-0; Palakkad bt Alapppuzha 10-0; Thiruvananthapuram bt Alappuzha 19-0; Palakkad bt Pathanamthitta 11-0.

Pool ‘B’: Kannur bt Idukki 2-0; Idukki bt Kozhikode 1-0; Kozhikode 2 drew with Wayanad 2; Kannur bt Wayanad 1-0.

Pool ‘C’: Malappuram 1 drew with Kollam 1.

Pool ‘D’: Kottayam bt Kasaragod 4-0. — Principal Correspondent