The Jalandhar team, which took the fight to the opposition camp in the first 40 minutes of the contest, lost all the necessary ingredients in the next 20 minutes, conceding four goals and being shown the exit door.

Army XI, apart from enjoying superior physical fitness, also had a plan for the Punjab college team. The college boys fell into the trap of Army’s gameplan and wasted all their energy in the opening 35 minutes. So much so, when they returned after the break, the team was gradually fading into defence mode, leaving Army XI to enjoy territorial supremacy in the closing stages of the competition.

Displaying an attacking brand of hockey, the Jalandhar boys put up a grand show as they attacked from the flanks. Though the Army side defended their citadel competently, the boys from Jalandhar kept piling on the attack with some goal-bearing moves. But for the competence of Army defenders and custodian PT Rao, Jalandhar would have shot ahead.

But unfortunately, the Jalandhar boys failed to keep up the tempo and wilted under pressure once Army XI banged in their first goal in the 44th minute. Army XI struck their first three goals off penalty corners. Rajesh Lakra, making the most of a weak link in the rival defence—until then it was impregnable— struck his first goal and soon after he followed it up with another.

Jalandhar goalkeeper Jaswinder Singh, who did a commendable job under the bar, had no answer to the powerful shots.

Down by two goals, the Punjab team made efforts to reduce the margin but fell short of luck. Sanjeev Kumar’s weak shot was easily padded by the Army keeper and, on another occasion, Major Singh’s shot from close was also padded away by Rao.

Army’s third goal also came via a penalty corner when D Mahadik scooped the ball straight into the net, leaving Jaswinder absolutely clueless. With time running out, Mahadik put the issue beyond the Jalandhar boys by sounding the board in the closing stages of the contest.

Jalandhar team skipper Gurdeep Singh admitted that the first of the four goals by Rajesh Lakra undid all their early efforts and it paved the way for a change in the complexion of the game.