Deepak Thakur stars in Rovers' triumph

Chandigarh, May 17 (UNI) It rained goals as Rock Rovers prevail over state run Chandigarh Hockey Academy by 9-8 in the fifth Olympian Dharam Singh Memorial Six-a-Side Hockey Tournament being played at the Sector 18 Hockey Stadium under lights here tonight.

Olympian Deepak Thakur scored in the seventh minute for Rovers and made it 2-0 in the very next minute to give his team a 2-0 lead.

Thakur's other two goals came in the 20th and 27th minutes. The teams were locked seven-all till the 27th minute.

However, Deepak snatched the match-winner through a field goal in the 27th minute. Satwinder Singh contributed three goals by scoring in the 21st, 23rd and 25th minutes. Sukhmeet (12th and 13th minutes) scored a brace.

Though, Chandigarh Hockey Academy, Sector 42 lost they fought a valiant battle and their star performer was Harmanpreet who pumped in five goals, including a hat-trick. His goals came in the 16th, 17th, 18th, 23rd and 27th minutes. Simrandeep (14th) and Preetinder (9th, 25th) were the other CHA's scorers.

CHA's goalkeeper Harjeet Singh was declared the Man of the Match.

The winners secured three points.

Earlier, Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala and Patiala Tigers split points as they played a six-all draw. Railway Coach Factory have to blame themselves for dropping a point as they were leading 4-0 before Patiala Tigers staged a grand rally to share's the day's honour.

RCF scored through Amolak (2), Yadwinder (2), Gagan (1) and Mandeep (1). Sandeep Junior (2), Pawan Bassi (2), Sandeep Senior (1) and Gurpartap (1) scored for Patiala Tigers.

RCF goalkeeper Preet Singh was declared the man of the match.

In the third match, Air India defeated Central Industrial Security Force by 13-10 after playing a 4-all draw at half time. Joga Singh was adjudged the Man of the Match.

UNI