Goals aplenty and exciting action have been the hallmarks of the opening week of the Coal India Hockey India League.
After the first seven matches of the fourth edition of the Hockey India League, the Jaypee Punjab Warriors, led by Sardar Singh and coached by Barry Dancer, top the table with two wins, although Delhi Waveriders are breathing down their necks with the same number of victories but with a game in hand.
The opening match of the competition saw an entertaining and high scoring match between Kalinga Lancers and Uttar Pradesh Wizards, with the Wizards running out 8-6 winners after a nail biting finish.
The Wizard's Joulie Wouter scored the first goal of the 2016 league – a field goal, which under new rules, is worth two points. It was all square at 6-6 until the final few seconds of the game, when Uttar Pradesh Wizard’s Akashdeep Singh burst through to score a field goal and take the score to 8-6.
The Chandigarh based Jaypee Punjab Warriors have made a good start to the tournament, registering a win against last year’s champions Ranchi Rays for the first time in the competition’s history.
The pleasure in that 2-0 win over Ranchi Rays was short-lived as the Warriors then suffered a 4-5 loss at the hands of Delhi Waveriders – two penalty corners from Rupinder Pal Singh helping the Delhi side towards a victory.
Dancer’s men bounced back from that loss with a 3-1 win over Dabang Mumbai; Armaan Qureshi and Chris Ciriello on target to give the team the win.
At the other end of the table, Dabang Mumbai has yet to win a game, despite leading for much of their opening game against the Kalinga Lancers.
Florian Fuchs gave Mumbai a 2-0 lead through a field goal, but as the timer counted down, the Lancers fought back.
Fourth quarter goals from Adam Dixon and the league’s leading goal-scorer Glenn Turner evaded the otherwise excellent defence of ‘keeper David Harte to give the Lancers a 4-2 win.
Ranchi Rays might have suffered a loss at the hands of Jaypee Punjab Warriors, but there was no mistaking their intent on retaining the title they won a year ago when they faced Uttar Pradesh Wizards in their second match of the competition.
The Wizards took an early lead through Ramandeep Singh, but the Rays raised their game and a goal from Sarvanjit Singh and two from captain Ashley Jackson meant the Rays emerged as 4-2 winners.
The next two matches in the league are between Uttar Pradesh Wizards and Kalinga Lancers, a match that will take place in Lucknow on Monday 26 January while Ranchi Rays face Delhi Waveriders in their home stadium at Ranchi on Tuesday 27 January.
With a further 23 games before the teams reach the semi-final stages, this competition is still very much anyone’s for the taking.
To follow all the live action, visit the Coal India Hockey India League website by clicking here.
