Orissa Steelers top table with 28 points

Chandigarh, Feb 26 (UNI) Powerful and well-organised Orissa Steelers completed their league enagagements after trouncing Chennai Veerans by 5-1 in Premier Hockey League at the floodlit Sector 42 Hockey Stadium here tonight.

It was steely Steelers' eighth triumph in regulation period.

With 28 points from 12 outings, Steelers, led by three-time Olympian Dilip Tirkey, topped the seven-team league programme.

During the Chennai and Chandigarh legs, Steelers were beaten twice only. In Chennai Sher-e-Jalandhar had beaten them by 2-1 and in Chandigarh defending champions Bangalore Lions got the better of Orissa Steelers by 4-3.

Their opponents in the best-of-three finals will be star-packed Sher-E-Jalandhar who have collected 23 points from 11 matches. Hot contenders Sher-E-Jalandhar will complete their league programme with a match against another team from Northern India, Chandigarh Lions tomorrow at 7 p.m.

Orissa Steelers' line-up was strengthened today with the inclusion of Olympian Sameer Dad, who came in place of Argentinian Mario Almada who has returned home. Dad justified his inclusion as he scored two goals in his first appearance and also contributed his share in Steelers' third goal through penalty conversion by Dilip Tirkey.

However, it was Chennai Veerans who first threatened Steelers in the seventh minute. Following their first penalty corner, Raghunath's powerful drag flick was padded by Pakistan goalkeeper Salman Akbar.

Steelers retaliated and forged ahead in the ninth minute through Roshan Minz who with a solo effort got past a couple of defenders before catching Veerans goalkeeper Shanmugham with a reverse shot.

Mounting further pressure with their pleasing moves, Steelers doubled the score in the 13th minute when he converted a defence-spliting pass from Vimal Lakra with a fine deflection.

Sameer, the pick of the day, then had a hand in Steelers' third goal in the 25th minute. Sameer pushed with perfection and Vikram Lakra set the stage for Dilip Tirkey to sound the 18'' high board with a whistling drive.

The fourth goal for Steelers was the best of the day. Pakistan player Adnan Zakir dashed on the right flank and entered the striking circle. With a swift move he gave a parallel pass to well-positioned Sameer Dad who just touched the ball to score his second goal and team's fourth.

Chennai Veerans, who completed their league stage with 13 points, secured their lone goal in the 45th minute througha peanlty corner conversion by Vikram Kanth.

However, Brunoh Adrian rounded off the winners tally with a field goal in the 61st minute.

Vimal Lakra was declared the Lion of the Match. However, it was Sameer Dad who became the darling of the crowd with his outstanding performance.

Points position after 40th match: 1 Orissa Steelers 28 2 Sher-e-Jalandhar 23 3 Bangalore Lions 17 4 Maratha Warriors 16 5 Chandigarh Dynamos 14 6 Chennai Veerans 13 7. Hyderabad Sultans 6 UNI XC HS SAM RK2228