HIL: Warriors thrash Delhi Waveriders 5-2

02 February, New Delhi

Jaypee Punjab Warriors toppled Delhi in the Hockey India League (HIL) team standings after beating the hosts 5-2 in a league encounter at the Shivaji Stadium here tonight.

Punjab’s foreign recruits Mark Gleghorne, Mark Knowles, Christopher Ciriello and Jake Whetton did the job as a helpless Delhi found it tough to match the visitors in the field.

The first quarter witnessed aggressive hockey from the visitors as Englishman Gleghorne converted a penalty corner beautifully in the 10th minute to make it 1-0 before Australian Knowles once again stroke in the 11th minute to make it 2-0.

Under pressure to open their account, Delhi failed to find the goal scoring opportunity as Australian Ciriello made another Penalty Corner count to make it 3-0 in favour of the visitors at the end of the second quarter.

Delhi tried hard to bounce back after the break as Rupinder Pal Singh opened the scoring for the hosts to reduce the gap to 1-3 in the 35th minute but their joy only lasted for two minutes as a superb deflection from Australian Jake Whetton made it 5-1 in favour of the visitors at the end of the third quarter.

The last quarter saw Delhi score another consolidatory goal, courtesy Rupinder’s last minute bullet strike to make it 2-5 at the final hooter.

Delhi will next take on Kalinga Lancers in Bhubaneshwar on Friday while the Punjab Warriors will face UP Wizards on Thursday in their home turf Chandigarh.