As the Hero Hockey India League reaches the midway mark, it is becoming clearer which teams will play in the semi-finals of the world’s most prestigious hockey league.
Jaypee Punjab Warriors, who have already sealed their place in the semi-final, will face Ashley Jackson’s Ranchi Rays at Ranchi on Tuesday evening (February 10). The top two teams in the league table meet for the first time this season ahead of a possible re-match of the tournament semi-final phase.
The Warriors, coached by legendary Aussie Barry Dancer, currently lead the table with 28 points, although the Rays have reduced the advantage over the past week and sit just four points behind on 24. The Warriors suffered their first defeat of the season last week, going down 2-1 to Uttar Pradesh Wizards, who now sit third in the table, in Lucknow. First half goals from India penalty corner ace VR Raghunath and Ramandeep Singh did the damage for UP, with Australian superstar Jamie Dwyer scoring the Warriors’ only goal of the match in the second period.
However, the Warriors returned to winning ways in spectacular style by crushing Sardar Singh’s Delhi Wave Riders 7-0, with in-form India defender Sandeep Singh – who currently sits top of the scorer’s charts with eight goals - bagging a hat-trick of penalty corners in the rout, ensuring that they coming into Tuesday’s meeting in Ranchi at the very top of their game. The Rays are also in great form, having lost only one of their opening seven matches and remain unbeaten at their home ground, a record that they will be looking to keep for as long as possible.
With the Rays likely to join the Warriors in the semi-finals, the race for the two land one of the two remaining spots is still very much alive. Third placed UP Wizards have 20 points, five clear of Delhi Wave Riders in fourth. Debang Mumbai have 12 points and sit fifth, three points ahead of bottom of the table Kalinga Lancers.
You can keep track of all the action from the Hero Hockey India League on the official tournament website and on their Twitterand Facebook social media channels. To see the star-studded squad lists, click the links below.
Dabang Mumbai
Delhi Waveriders
Jaypee Punjab Warriors
Kalinga Lancers
Ranchi Rays
Uttar Pradesh Wizards
