Kerala and Patiala play out exciting 4-4 draw

: Kerala and Patiala played out an exciting 4-4 draw in a Pool 'E' match in the 9th Hockey India Senior National Hockey Championship for men 'B' Division here Monday.

In other matches, Hockey Coorg beat Steel Plant Sports Board 2-1 and Sports Authority of India defeated All India Police Sports Control Board 2-1.

There were also wins for Hockey HIM over Assam Hockey 5-1 and Hockey Madhya Bharat walloped Goans Hockey 9-3.

With the league stage nearing completion, the standings saw Hockey Maharashtra top Pool A, Sashastra Seema Bal claim honours in Pool B, Central Secretariat (pool C), Bengaluru Hockey Association (D).

In the first match today, Kerala Hockey and Hockey Patiala were involved in an intense battle for supremacy.

S Shijin (11th, 17th, 40th minutes) with a hat-trick helped Kerala take a 3-1 lead.

Rana Robindeep Singh, who scored in the 33rd minute, found the back of the net again in the 48th minute.

Rahul Sharma's 49th minute goal through a penalty corner equalised the score and Jaswant Singh's 56th minute goal gave Hockey Patiala a 4-3 lead.

M Nishant then scored for Kerala Hockey to secure a draw and split points.

In a Pool H match, Hockey Coorg beat Steel Plant Sports Board 2-1, while another closely-fought encounter saw Sports Authority of India edge out All-India Police Sports Control Board 2-1.

In Pool G, Hockey HIM outplayed Assam Hockey 5-1 while Hockey Madhya Bharat beat Goans Hockey 9-3 in a one-sided Pool H match.