Hockey India League-4: UP hammer Punjab at home

Uttar Pradesh Wizards registered their first win on home turf defeating Jaypee Punjab Warriors 4-1 in a fast-paced encounter of the Hockey India League-4 in Lucknow, on Wednesday.

The win took Uttar Pradesh to third in the league table with 23 points in their kitty, keeping their semi-final hopes alive.

The visitors were rewarded in the 10th minute when Mark Gleghorne made no mistake in converting a penalty corner handing them a 1-0 lead.

Uttar Pradesh kept up their attacks and the effort saw results when Argentina’s Gonzalo Peillat fetched the equaliser through a penalty corner in the 19th minute. The Wizards upped their game and were dominant from here on. They added to the scoreline when Peillat notched up his second goal, putting the hosts 2-1 ahead before Agustin Mazilli sealed the game.

Delhi face Ranchi Delhi Waveriders find themselves in an unfamiliar position. Four back-to-back losses have pushed the 2014 champions to the bottom of the table and with the league reaching its business end, time is running out fast.

On Thursday, they run into league leaders and defending champions Ranchi Rays and the task is anything but easy for Simon Child and his men, who have not won any home games this season.

Ranchi, on the other hand, have been a roll. After a slow start, the team played true to expectations and have been strong in all departments — defence, midfield and attack.

Led by the effective Ashley Jackson, Ranchi have won five of their seven matches and are virtually assured of a last four berth.

Delhi’s problems have been manifold. The midfield has been their weakest area, with the attack too struggling to get going. Coach Cedric D’Souza refused to blame his players after their dramatic loss to Mumbai at home on Tuesday, saying they would have to rework strategies.

A loss on Thursday will all but end their hopes of a semi-finals berth — a slot they had not missed in the last three editions.

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