Hockey India League 2024-25: Jugraj Singh leads Bengal Tigers to 5-3 win over UP Rudras in goal-fest

Hockey India League 2024-25: Jugraj Singh leads Bengal Tigers to 5-3 win over UP Rudras in goal-fest

Jurgaj Singh struck a fine brace to help Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers return to winning ways with a convincing 5-3 victory over UP Rudras in the Hockey India League at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium here on Wednesday.

Tigers’ fourth win, and the first after two successive defeats, elevated them to the second spot.

Tigers outplayed Rudras in possession as well as circle entries and pumped in three goals in the first quarter.

Gauthier Boccard provided the breakthrough in the eighth minute as he dribbled through the centre and beat three defenders before pushing it in.

Tigers doubled their lead as Jugraj drag-flicked high and the ball got deflected to beat goalkeeper James Mazarelo on the right.

Tigers got their third goal and the league’s 100th when Sukhjeet Singh shot home a rebound following Sebastien Dockier’s reverse hit.

However, it was not without controversy. Rudras claimed a stick check but video umpire Anand Dangi rejected it. Floris Wortelboer objected and ended up being green-carded.

Tigers firmed up their defence, launched counters and collected two penalty corners. They nearly registered another goal but Sukhjeet’s effort was disallowed due to a back stick foul in the second quarter.

Rudras showed some intent to gather two short corners but could not breach the Tigers’ wall.

Tigers piled further misery as Jugraj nicely executed another drag-flick, off substitute custodian Prashant Chauhan’s pads, to make it 4-0 minutes into the second half.

Midway through the penultimate quarter Rudras threw some serious challenges, including two consecutive penalty corners, but Jamie Carr and his mates in the backline stood resolutely.

Without Jugraj’s presence, Tigers could not make the most of two more short corners in the 45th minute but had enough cushion going into the final quarter.

Following a counterattack, Abhishek scored Tigers’ fifth from Sukhjeet’s pass before Rudras redeemed some pride.

Hardik Singh converted a penalty stroke, a result of a challenge that tripped Sam Ward inside the ‘D,’ and Ward scored twice off penalty corners to reduce the margin.