Chennai: Tamil Nadu Police claimed its second win in three matches with a 5-1 defeat of ICF while Central Excise registered its first win in the super six stage of the IOB-CHA senior division hockey league with a 4-2 verdict against Indian Bank at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium here on Thursday.

Indian Bank was the first to go ahead through V. Raja in the fifth minute, but Excise hit back through Laxman Karan's strike in the 31st. The score remained that way going into the break, but it was Excise which hit the ground running after resumption.

The side hit the post early in the second half before forcing Bank custodian Isaac Jebaraj into two saves. For Bank, Sivamani was at the centre of most of its forays, and had a chance to break the deadlock when he dragged an effort wide under pressure from the Excise defence.

The side was to pay for not taking the chance as Allen Rajesh cracked home a goal to put Excise ahead.

That opened the floodgates, as Bank failed to contain Excise's thrust. Mervin Joy struck twice in quick succession, in the 63rd and 65th minutes, as the side went 4-1 up.

With the clock running down, Bank had more than a few chances to reduce the deficit, if not make a fist of the contest.



The Hindu