HIL: Rupinder double lifts Delhi over Punjab

The Delhi Waveriders (green) defeated the Jaypee Punjab Warriors 5-4.

Drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh pumped in two goals via penalty corners as Delhi Waveriders opened their campaign with a 5-4 victory over the Jaypee Punjab Warriors in a closely contested Hockey India League match here today.

Rupinder struck in the 24th and 36th minutes while Canadian Mark Pearson scored from another penalty corner in the 28th minute after Yuvraj Walmiki had given the Waveriders the lead in the ninth minute via a field goal, which was counted as two goals under the new tournament rules.

For the Warriors, Matthew Gohdes scored a field goal in the 10th minute before Christopher Ciriello (29th minute) and Mark Gleghorne (54th) found the target from penalty corners.

The Warriors had beaten defending champions Ranchi Rays in their campaign opener here yesterday. The Waveriders were playing their first match of the tournament today.

The Delhi-based team took the lead in the ninth minute through a brilliant reverse hit from Walmiki but the home side struck back in the next minute through a Gohdes’ field goal as both sides ended the first quarter equally balanced at 2-2. But after that, the Waveriders never allowed their opponents to dominate the match and the Warriors had to play catch-up in front of their home crowd.

The Waveriders got a penalty corner in the 24th minute after some end-to-end hockey in the second quarter and Rupinder stepped up to convert it with a beautiful drag-flick and give his side the lead again. Four minutes later, the Waveriders got another penalty corner and Pearson deflected it into the Warriors goal to make the scoreline 4-2 in favour of the visiting team.

The home side pulled one back in the next minute (29th) with Australian Ciriello converting a penalty corner as the two sides went into the half time break with the Waveriders leading 4-3.

The latter half of the match saw lesser number of goals but action was not lacking as both sides tried to dominate the other. Rupinder made it count again as he struck in the third quarter (36th minute) to give the Waveriders a 5-3 lead.

The match began slipping away from the home side and despite scoring a goal in the final quarter (54th) through Gleghorne, they ended on the losing side.