Jalandhar, October 19 : Former champions Bharat Petroleum and Air India, both of Mumbai, earned full points in the league matches of the Silver Jubilee IndianOil Servo Surjit Hockey Tournament at local Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium here today.
Bharat Petroleum defeated and Rail Coach Factory of Kapurthala by 3-1 in a pool B match while in pool-‘C’ Air India beat Punjab Police by 2-1.Bharat Petroleum took the lead the 10th minute through centre forward Amar Aiyamma who received a parallel pass on the top of the striking circle from inside right Sabu Virkey before doging two defenders and scoring a field goal.
The coachmen mounted pressure but Bharat Petroleum goalkeeper Jaswinder Singh stood firm under the bars. The Kapurthala boys continued their pressure and just before the lemon break they again missed their second panality corner and the oilmen were leading by 1-0 at half time.
On resumption, the coachmen equalised in the 40th minute when outside right Deepak Kumar scored a field goal with a solo effort (1-1). After equliser, the petroleum men started their attacks from the fight flank and earned their fourth penalty corner and Gurpeet Singh converted it (2-1). In the 63rd minute Bharat Petroleum consolidated the lead when through centre forward Amar Aiyamma who scored another field goal (3-1).
The first half of the match played between Punjab Police and Air India produced no goal.
After the breather, the airmen took the lead in the 39 minute when their centre forward Sandeep Michel dribbled past three defenders before scoring. Down by one goal Punjab Police initiated some good moves and earned three penalty corners in a row. Drag flickert Jugraj Singh converted a penalty corner to equalize in the 49th minute (1-1).
Outside left Brojen Singh scored a field goal in the 52nd minute (2-1). In the dying minute Joga Singh scored a nice field goal with a solo effort to complete the tally (3-1)
Meanwhile, a 77-member contingent of three Pakistan teams — Jjaved Hockey Club, Gojra, Independent Hockey Club, Sailkot and Crescent Hockey Club, Sargodha will cross the Wahga Border (Amritsar) on Monday to participate in the tournament.
Tomorrow’s fixtures: Air India, Mumbai Vs South Central Railways (4.00 p.m) and IndianOil, Mumbai Vs. Namdhari XI (6.00 p.m.)