Favourites Indian Overseas Bank overwhelmed Trichy District 9-0, courtesy Adam Sinclair’s five goals, in the IOB-1st Syed Ahmed Memorial all India invitation hockey tournament at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium on Monday. So did Tamil Nadu Police, as they demolished State Bank of India 5-0, stretching the pervading theme of one-sidedness in the tournament.
Sinclair, a former international was at the peak of his game, and scored twice inside the first five minutes of the contest. Trichy conceded three more goals before half-time. DS Darshan scored their third in the 12th minute before Sinclair completed his treble in the 19th minute. Shanmugam’s 34th-minute goal completed their first-half dominance, reducing the second half to sheer academic relevance.
The dynamics hardly altered in the latter half, as Trichy kept chasing shadows, and Sinclair duly converted two more (42nd and 50th minutes). Dhamu and Mohammad Naeemuddin, too, forayed into scoring chart as Trichy were left high and dry with a glaring deficiency on the defensive front.
Earlier, State Bank of India resisted Tamil Nadu Police’s incursion until the 25th minute, whereby David Arokiaraj put Police in front. Two more goals were added in the space of three minutes, one apiece by Arokiaraj and Kannan. Uchini Mahali’s strike in the 36th minute and Divakar’s in the 42nd took the contest beyond SBI.
Results: Indian Overseas Bank 9 (Adam Sinclair 3, 4, 19, 42, 50, DS Darshan 12, Shanmugam 34, Dhamu 44, Mohammad Naeemuddin 64) bt Trichy District 0. Man of the Match: Abu Thakir of Trichy.
Tamil Nadu Police 5 (David Arokiaraj 25, 28, Kannan 27, Uchini Mahali 36, Divakar 42) bt SBI 0.
Man of the Match: Aravind of SBI.