Gumla boys in Super League stage

Action from the Group B match between Government High School, Kawnpui (Mizoram), and One Thousand Hockey Legs in the 34th Nehru sub-junior hockey tournament in New Delhi on Tuesday.

St Ignatius High School from Gumla in Jharkhand advanced to the super league stage as they brushed aside BL Public Senior Secondary School, Alwar (Rajasthan) in the 34th Nehru sub-junior hockey tournament at Shivaji Stadium on Tuesday.

In a Group C game, the Gumla boys came from behind to down the Alwar school 5-2 in a game of fluctuating fortunes. Romit Pal from Alwar put his team ahead with a penalty corner conversion just two minutes after the start, but Pravin Kullu came up with the equaliser in the 14 minute.

The game was locked 1-1 at half time. After the changeover, the Alwar boys once again got their nose ahead when another penalty corner was converted by Karan Singh Saini in the 38th.

Down 1-2, the Jharkhand school put up an inspired show eqaulising in the 48th through Asim Tirkey. The Gumla boys went ahead for the first time when Kullu netted his second of the game in the 58th minute. He added another to his tally in the 66th, while Sumit Xalxo hit the net two minutes from time to seal the win.

Earlier in Group D, Army Boys Sports College from Faizabad (UP) prevailed over Rao Brij Mohan Public School, Paprawat (Delhi) 2-1 in a closely fought contest.

Sajan (31st and 59th) hit a brace for the Faizabad school to hand them a 2-0 lead before the Delhi boys replied through Parshant (70+) in injury time.

Later, Government High School from Kawnpui (Mizoram) hammered One Thousand Hockey Legs 9-1 in a one-sided Group B encounter.

The Mizoram boys conceded the initial lead when Pawan Jr of OTHL scored in the 22nd minute. But OTHL got no further opportunity to celebrate as the Mizoram school made a terrific comeback firing in nine goals with eight of their boys finding the net, Lalruatsanga (44th and 46th) scoring a brace.