Hockey: PNB, IOCL post third win

Punjab National Bank (PNB) and last year's joint winners Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) posted their third victories in the preliminary league of the 88th All-India MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament here Tuesday.

While PNB routed Indian Bank 7-0 in pool B to remain unbeaten after three outings, so did IOCL who overcame South Central Railway 5-2 in pool A to remain on course for semi-finals.

Jitender Saroha (13th, 28th) and former international Ajitesh Roy (69th, 70th) scored twice each while Hardeep (16th), Satpal Singh (46th) and Jalwinder (63rd) added to the tally for PNB while Indian Bank failed to offer any resistance to suffer third consecutive defeat.

Later, IOCL overcame a sluggish start when they fell in arrears by a goal to overrun South Central Railway for whom Mayank James (18th) and MG Poonacha (48th) scored.

IOCL found their heroes in former India players Deepak Thakur (23rd, 57th) and Didar Singh (34th, 35th, 67th) to top their pool with nine points, the same as Indian Overseas Bank.

While IOCL have a game in hand against Army XI (6 points), IOB have completed their league engagements with three wins and a defeat.