Surjit Academy U-14 PHL champions

Ludhiana, Jan 24 (UNI) Surjit Hockey Academy of Jalandhar emerged winners in the chancy session of tie-breaker as they defeated stubborn Punjab Agriculture University of Ludhiana by an aggregate 7-4 margin after playing a three-all draw in the regulation period in the final of the Western Union Punjab Hockey A League for under-14 organised by the Punjab Sports Department at the PAU Astroturf Stadium here today.

Ranjit Singh Hockey Academy of Amritsar scored a 1-0 win over Khalsa School Hockey Academy, also of Amritsar, in the losing semi-finalists match. The match-winner was scored by Prabhjinder in the fifth minute.

The final witnessed a ding-dong battle in the regulation period between Surjit Academy and the PAU Academy. Hardly the match progressed for four minutes when PAU, playing at their home turf, forged ahead with a field goal scored by Akshadeep.

Surjit Hockey Academy took time to settle down and tried hard to restore parity. However, the PAU defence kept them at bay till 20th minute when Amanjot scored a field goal to make it one-all. The PAU boys counter-attacked and again took the lead in the 35th minute through Ravi Kumar.

Two penalty-corner goals within a span of seven minutes by Manpreet put Surjit 3-2 up. Manpreet first neutralised the lead by converting his team's sixth penalty corner in the 42nd minute and seven minutes later, he caught the PAU defence napping by converting his team's eighth penalty corner.

Cheered on by the home crowd, the PAU went all out and a wrong tackling by a Surjit Academy defender led to award of a penalty stroke in favour of PAU in the 54th minute.

Pavitar converted in a smooth action and the teams shared honours in the regulation period with a creditable 3-all draw.

However, the PAU players displayed lack of match temperament in the tie-breaker session as only Harkamal was the only player who converted his stroke. Tarandeep and Gagandeep missed their trials.

For Surjit Hockey Academy, Gursahib, Gurjant, Amanjot and Sukhmanjot found the target with the respective strokes.

PAU got five penalty corners and Surjit Academy eight.

Mr R P S Pawar, Secretary Sports, Punjab Government, distributed the prizes. Punjab Sports Director Pargat Singh and Chief Coordinator of the PHL were also present on the occasion.

With the conclusion of the Under-14 competitions, the Punjab Sports Department today also started the Western Union Punjab Hockey League for Under-16 and three matches were played on the opening day.

Sangrur blanked Bhadurgarh by 7-0 after leading 1-0 at half time in a pool A fixture.

In Pool C outing, PAU Academy defeated Khalsa Hockey Academy by 3-0 and in another pool A encounter Surjit Hockey Academy collected full points at the expense of Jarkhar Acadmey whom they beat by 3-1.

UNI