HIL | Jugraj scores a hat-trick as Bengal Tigers emerge champions

In an evening of penalty corner (PC) master-class from both sides, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers prevailed over Hyderabad Toofans 4-3 in a thrilling final of the Hockey India League (HIL) at a packed Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium here on Saturday.

Jugraj Singh starred with a treble while Sam Lane, who had a quiet tournament until the knockouts, struck the decisive goal, handing Tigers their maiden title.

While the tournament’s PC conversion had been average at best, the final saw the teams with the best exponents of the skill go toe-to-toe.

Superb display

Jugraj had emerged as the PC expert, Toofans’ Gonzalo Peillat showed why he was the world’s best and his young teammate Amandeep Lakra put his name in the hat as the ‘next big thing’. During the final, all three had their moments with stunning accuracy.

Peillat struck in the opening quarter to draw first blood and Amandeep rocketed in one to restore the lead after Jugraj’s missile-like hit found the left side of the board.

At half-time, Toofans coach Pasha Gademan askes his players to win possession before Tigers could penetrate the circle but as soon as the third quarter got underway, his team failed to carry out the instruction.

Class act

Within minutes, Jugraj showed his class by making it two in two attempts to complete his hat-trick and take his tally to 12 goals.

Both teams had further tries with Jugraj and his skipper Rupinder Pal Singh trying variations without any luck

Then in the fourth quarter, Lane found the corner of the goal. Toofans kept pushing till the end with Peillat looking to rescue his side once again but Tigers’ keeper Jamie Carr made a crucial save to keep the ball out.

Toofans were the team to beat and Colin Batch’s Tigers’ know-how of getting past teams came to the fore once again in the decider.

The results (final): Bengal Tigers 4 (Jugraj 25, 32, 35, Sam Lane 54) bt Hyderabad Toofans 3 (Gonzalo Peillat 9, 39, Amandeep Lakra 26).

Third-place playoff: Tamil Nadu Dragons 2 (Blake Govers 15, Jip Janssen 59) lost to Soorma Hockey Club 3 (Gurjant Singh 12, Harjeet Singh 19, Prabhjot Singh 57).