Hockey India League 2024-25: Jugraj’s brace guides Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers to 4-1 win over Delhi SG Pipers

Hockey India League 2024-25: Jugraj’s brace guides Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers to 4-1 win over Delhi SG Pipers

Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers rode on Jugraj Singh’s superb brace to outplay an error-prone Delhi SG Pipers 4-1 to record its third consecutive win and jump to the top of the table in the Hockey India League (HIL) at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium here on Saturday.

With its clinical approach and tactical superiority, Bengal Tigers showed why it has emerged as a top side early in the league.

Tigers seized the initiative in a flash as Affan Yousuf provided a fine pass to Sukhjeet Singh on the right, and the latter slotted in a diagonal shot through a narrow opening in the 23rd second.

Pipers, despite its passing issues, created pressure on the Tigers’ citadel, but the Colin Batch-coached side held its nerves and its compact defence.

With the ever-active Affan playing brilliantly, donning crucial roles all over the field, Tigers doubled its lead early in the second quarter as Jugraj launched a low drag-flick to sound the board.

Pipers got some good opportunities through three consecutive penalty corners in the third quarter, but Jamie Carr’s alert blunted the attempts under the bar.

As Pipers desperately tried to catch up, one witnessed a fascinating duel between Graham Reid-coached team’s forwards and the Tigers’ defenders.

Jugraj brought variety to his trade as he completed his brace with a high flick that got deflected off the goalkeeper Pawan’s right glove in the third quarter.

Abhishek Nain made the best use of Florent van Aubel’s pass from the right to put it past Benjamin Rennie in the final quarter.

Delhi pushed hard in the closing stages and Gareth Furlong pulled one back beating substitute goalkeeper Atal Dev Singh Chahal.

Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers 4 (Sukhjeet 1, Jugraj 17 and 38, Abhishek 47) bt Delhi SG Pipers 1 (Furlong 53)