~Jugraj Singh nets brace as Bengal Tigers beat UP Rudras 5-3~
Rourkela, 15 December 2024: An outstanding first quarter efficiency arrange a 5-3 win for the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers over the UP Rudras within the Hero Hockey India League (HIL) 2024-25 on the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela on Wednesday.
Gauthier Boccard (8`), Jugraj Singh (10` and 33`), Sukhjeet Singh (14`) and Abhishek (46`) scored for the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers. Hardik Singh (47`) and Sam Ward (51` and 59`) scored within the fourth quarter because the UP Rudras went down combating.
The UP Rudras began brightly with their forwards Sudeep Chirmako and Lalit Kumar Upadhyay each discovering their approach into the circle however unable to check Jamie Carr within the Bengal Tigers purpose.
The Rudras’ early lack of ending got here again to hang-out them because the Bengal Tigers took the lead within the eighth minute. Gauthier Boccard went on an excellent solo run as he jinxed previous a number of defenders earlier than putting the ball into the underside nook past the attain of goalkeeper James Mazarelo.
The Tigers pressed their benefit and received the primary penalty nook of the match within the tenth minute. The Rudras had by no means conceded a purpose from a penalty nook this event having efficiently defended all 20 penalty corners that they had confronted up to now.
Jugraj Singh broke the duck with an unstoppable drag flick which took a deflection off the primary rusher, taking it away from Mazarelo.
The Tigers didn’t take the foot of the gasoline as they scored their third purpose within the 14th minute. Sebastien Dockier acquired the ball within the circle earlier than capturing at purpose from a promising angle. Mazarelo saved Dockier’s try however the rebound fell to Sukhjeet Singh who poked it in for the one centesimal purpose of the Hero Hockey India League 2024-25 season.
The UP Rudras gamers protested the purpose as they believed there was a stick sort out within the build-up to the purpose however the TV umpire noticed no purpose to disallow the purpose. The Tigers took a 3-0 lead into the second quarter.
The Tigers received three penalty corners in a row within the twenty first minute however Mazarelo and Surender Kumar ensured that the Tigers didn’t get a fourth purpose.
The Tigers thought that they had scored their fourth within the twenty sixth minute when Sukhjeet Singh bundled the ball over the road on the finish of a fast counter assault. Nonetheless, the TV umpire dominated that the ball had come off Sukhjeet’s again stick when he scored.
With six seconds left within the second quarter, the Rudras received a penalty nook. Tanguy Cosyns’ drag flick was charged down by Joshua Beltz because the Tigers went into halftime 3-0 forward.
The Tigers lastly acquired their fourth purpose three minutes into the third quarter. Sam Lane received a penalty nook which Jugraj Singh duly transformed to nab his fifth purpose of the season, the joint-most alongside Tomas Domene and Jip Jannsen.
The Rudras got here inside inches of pulling a purpose again within the fortieth minute however have been denied by some unbelievable defending by Florent van Aubel. Kane Russell’s drag flick got here off Jamie Carr’s glove earlier than trickling in the direction of purpose. Van Aubel, positioned on the publish, jumped over his goalkeeper to flick the ball away on the road.
The Tigers started the ultimate quarter with a typical counter attacking purpose. They defended a penalty nook earlier than launching the counter. Sukhjeet Singh performed it to fellow Indian ahead Abhishek who dummied his shot to idiot the defender earlier than firing an unstoppable shot previous Prashant Kumar Chauhan.
The Rudras received a penalty stroke within the forty seventh minute as Sam Ward was bundled over in entrance of purpose by Tim Cross . Captain Hardik Singh stepped up and lofted the ball into the highest nook to drag a purpose again for his aspect.
The Rudras arrange a nervy remaining 10 minutes for the Tigers as they pulled one other purpose again due to a Sam Ward penalty nook purpose within the 51st minute. Ward scored his second purpose and the Rudras’ third within the 59th minute from one other penalty nook.
Regardless of their valiant efforts, the UP Rudras couldn’t full the turnaround. With the win, the Bengal Tigers leapfrog over the Hyderabad Toofans and the UP Rudras to second place with 12 factors. The Rudras, in the meantime, drop to fourth with 9 factors.
