Kalinga lancers 6-3 Ranchi Rays: 5 talking points
After the glittering and dazzling opening of the season 3 of the Hockey India League, it was business as usual for two of the six participating teams. With both, Kalinga Lancers and Ranchi Rays, looking to open the tournament on a positive note, the first match was intense, spicy and full of goals.The home team, Kalinga Lancers, beat the visiting Ranchi Rays by a scoreline that read 6-3. Lancers dominated most of the first half, having more shots on target and as a result, led by 3-1 at the end of the first half. In the second half, the Rays came back strongly by moving Captain Ashley Jackson further forward and it paid dividends soon. However, the Lancers scored another three goals to seal the match.Here are the five talking points from the opening encounter:
#1 Lancers defended well when it mattered the most
Image credits: Hockey India League Facebook
A team which has a mentor of Dilip Tirkey’s calibre will always possess great defensive strength. It was a fact that visible through almost the entire sixty minutes in Lancers’ game. The back five led by Gurjinder Singh and Spain’s Ramon Alegre were rock solid and held their fort safe when it mattered. Even though, they were scratchy at times (especially Gurjinder) they kept their nerves cool to seal the match.
The defenders reduced the incoming crosses from both flanks by making a crucial stops evey time.