The first match had all the ingredients of two tough cookies fighting for honours but the first session was rather a dull one with the teams more concentrating on guarding their citadels without taking undue risks. Academy came close to scoring on a couple of occasions but their forwards muffed the chances that came their way. Similarly, New Stars also could have put to account their efforts -- at least half a dozen of them -- but could not do so mainly because of their ungamely display.

As a result, the first half saw some changes go abegging despite New Stars doiminating the proceedings and having an upper hand over Academy boys. The feeding was good and even the passes accurate but every time the ball reached the circle, New Stars boys delayed or shot wide.

In contrast, Academy struggling and waiting for the most opportune time made most of a chance in the 55th minute and Sonu made no mistake with his shot.

After leading 6-0 at the break, Youngsters returned with a new vigor and struck eight times to push their opponents to the corner. Sanjay opened the account in the 10th minute, Rajinder added to the tally by the 12th minute and soon enough Rajwinder converted a penalty corner for consolidation. Harvinder Singh picked up a rebound from Adivasi goalkeeper for the fourth goal in the 22nd minute. Javed struck the fifth and Rajinder returned to score once more as the teams went for an interval.

On resumption Rajinder accounted his third goal, converting a penalty corner but it was his colleague, Avinash, who completed a hat-trick of goals striking the seventh, eighth and the ninth goals off penalty corners in a span of three minutes.