South Central edge out seasoned PNB to clinch title

South Central Railway lifted the prestigious Bombay Gold Cup title in its 51st edition by edging their way past Punjab National Bank 4-3 in a closely contested final here today.
The railway men, in their maiden appearance in the title contest, fought back twice from being in arrears to turn the tables on their more experienced rivals to take home the winners' prize money of Rs. 3 lakh.
Sanjeep Neelam Xess scored twice off penalty corners for the winners while forwards M G Poonacha and Raju Pal scored field goals, the latter one an amazing reverse-flicked effort from zero angle that proved to be the match-winning effort.

PNB were put in lead twice -- first by Bhagat Singh through an early field goal and then by Gagandeep Singh through a penalty corner goal.
Gagandeep also scored the team's last goal from another short corner when they were 2-4 down to reduce the margin of defeat.
PNB went ahead when Bhagat took control of a defensive error and scored off a pass from Shamsher Singh jr.

Xess converted SCR's second penalty corner to bring the teams on level terms before Gagandeep jr put the bankmen ahead before half time by converting their second penalty corner.
The change of ends did the trick for the railway team as Poonacha got the second equalizer off an Arjun Yadav pass early in the second half.

Then Xess put the railway team ahead for the first time in the match by converting his team's fourth penalty corner award before Raju scored the amazing reverse-flicked goal to make it 4-2, 10 minutes later in the 53rd minute.
PNB pulled one back two minutes later when Gagandeep scored his second penalty corner goal, but their best efforts to score an equalizer came to naught.
SCR's PR Ayappa won the best player of the tournament award given by the organisers Mumbai Hockey Association Limited, while Xess bagged the most promising player of the tournament awarded by the Sports Journalists Association of Mumbai.