Jaypee Punjab Warriors continued its good form, thrashing Kalinga Lancers 7-3, in their Hero Hockey India League match at the Kalinga Stadium here on Tuesday.
The new franchise, coached by Terry Walsh, had no answer to the marauding Warriors.
After a spectacular opening ceremony that had everything to keep the capacity crowd glued to the seats, the match was a big letdown in terms of quality as it lacked pace normally associated with big games.
Inexperience to the foreThe inexperience of the Lancers was to the fore. A weak defence, non-existent midfield and lack of thrustful forwards did the new team in.
There was absolutely no understanding between the players and the Lancers’ discomfiture gave all the advantage to Warriors, who made most of the openings count.
Dharamvir strikesThe Warriors began the scoring in the fifth minute through Man-of-the-Match Dharamvir Singh’s opportunistic goal after two Lancers defenders failed to clear the ball.
The winner struck four times in the second quarter, with goals coming from Lucas Rey, Sandeep Singh (both penalty corners), Affan Yousuf and Simon Orchard.
After the break, Lancers bounced back when Argentine sensation Gonzalo Peillat pulled one back with drag-flick off a penalty corner within three minutes of the start.
Two minutes later, Sandeep scored his second off a penalty corner.
Peillat was at it again with another penalty-corner conversion.
But, the best goal of the day was scored by Aussie international Jamie Dwyer, who whacked the ball in after Lancers’ goalkeeper blocked Robert Hammond’s flick to make it 7-2.
Ten minutes before the final hooter, Mandeep Antil made it 7-3 for the Lancers.
This was Warriors’ second win in three matches.
The team now has 11 points.
The result:
Jaypee Punjab Warriors 7 (Dharamvir Singh, Lucas Rey, Sandeep Singh (2), Affan Yousuf, Simon Orchard and Jamie Dwyer) bt Kalinga Lancers 3 (Gonzalo Peillat (2) and Mandeep Antil).
