CHENNAI: In a contest that tested the onlookers’ attention span, Integral Coach Factory (ICF) blanked Southern Railway 2-0 to set up a semifinal clash with Indian Bank, who hammered Ever Great Hockey Club, Vadipatti, 10-1 in the third IOB-Syed Ahmed Memorial Hockey Tournament at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium on Thursday.
It was a scrap, in its broadest sense. Though ICF scored in the second minute of the match, Railways ineptness to extrude beyond the opposition arc killed off the contest, though the match wasn’t one-sided as the one between Indian Bank and Ever Great. But Railways, for all their doggedness, didn’t have the craft or will to level the tally. Their inability to score hurt them most, and not even could they capitalise on penalty corners.
Not that ICF were overwhelmingly dominant, but there was more verve upfront, better coordination and opportunism on display. The second goal in the 64th minute sealed the match for ICF, and Ashwin for his brace was deemed man of the match.
In another match, Indian Bank routed the Ever Great Hockey Club 10-1. Ever Great initially signalled resistance, but fizzled out in 15 minutes. Soon Nishant converted a penalty corner and Indian Bank extended lead by scoring two more before half-time. And they came out even dynamically in the latter half, incessantly storming their opponents’ goalmouth, creating chances and scoring seven more, thus reducing whatever consolation Ever Great might have derived from their solitary goal in the 51st minute. Sivamani scored thrice, while Phillip Martin, V Raja and Maria Stalin chipped in with a brace apiece.
Results (quarterfinals): ICF 2 (B Ashwin (2, 64) bt Southern Railway 0; Indian Bank 10 (Nishant (15), Philip Martin (23, 49), Sivamani (34, 59, 63), Raja (42, 52), Marian Stalin 47, 52) bt Ever Great Hockey Club 1 (Sagayam 51).