PAU and Surjit Academy to clash in A League final

Ludhiana, Jan 23 (UNI) Punjab Agriculture University of Ludhiana will meet Surjit Hockey Academy of Jalandhar in the final of the Western Union Punjab Hockey A League for under-14 being hosted by the Punjab Sports Department, at the PAU Astroturf Stadium here tomorrow.

PAU eked out a narrow 1-0 win over Khalsa School Hockey Academy of Amritsar in the semi-final match. Pavitar converted a penalty stroke in the 48th minute after a goalless first half to give PAU entry into the final. PAU got penalty corners in the 12th, 19th, 31st, 37th, 47th and 48th minutes. They, however, could not take advantage of these opportunities as they lacked proper coordination among with the pusher, the stopper and the executioner.

Khalsa School got a solitary penalty corner in the 20th minute they also could not capitalise on this chance.

Surjit Hockey Academy managed to end the strong challenge of a never-say-die Ranjit Singh Hockey Academy of Amritsar in the sudden death tie-breaker session by 7-6. Even the tie-breaker rule could not resolve the deadlock as they converted four strokes each. The regulation period had ended in a one-all draw.

It was Surjit Hockey Academy who drew the first blow as Manpreet Singh converted a penalty corner two minutes after resumption.

Ranjit Hockey Academy worked hard to neutralise the lead and they got success in the 55th minute when Gurinder caught the Surjit Academy on the wrong foot.

In the tie-breaker session, Surjit Academy converted their penalty strokes through Gursahib, Gurjant, Amanjot and Sukhman.

Gurinder, Ramandeep, Jugraj and Kanwar Subhash scored for Ranjit Academy. Tied at 5-all, the sudden death rule was applied. Gursahib and Gurjant converted their strokes.

For Ranjit Academy, Gurinder converted while Ramandeep wasted the chance. Surjit Academy had formed as many as seven penalty corners but wasted these chances.

Cheema Hockey Academy finished fifth as they beat Khadoor Sahib Academy by an agregate 7-6 margin in the tie-breaker session for the fifth and sixth positions. The teams were locked one-all in the regulation period. Cheema Academy scored first in the 30th minute by converting a penalty corner through Gundeep in the 30th minutes.

Five minutes later, Cheema Academy restored parity with a field goal.

In another classification round to decide seven and eighth positions, Baba Bakala Academy defeated Thapar Hockey Academy of Sansarpur by 3-2. Faridkot Hockey Academy defeated Ropar Hockey Academy by 2-1 for the ninth position. Gopal Hockey Academy of Kurali defeated Sirah HA by 2-0 for the 11th position.

UNI