IAF fail again to convert lead into victory

LUDHIANA: Army XI came out on the top in a battle of nerves against Indian Air Force in the "All India Sahibzada Ajit Singh Hockey Champion Trophy 2012" at Prithipal Singh Hockey Stadium on PAU on Tuesday.
Played on a hazy afternoon, the match turned out to be a real show of grit from both sides, but ended in Army XI's favour at 3-1.
The IAF men were evidently disappointed having lost the match after scoring a lead in their second consecutive match.On Tuesday, their first goal came from Harwant Singh's stick 18 minutes into the game, but they couldn't defend the lead for long, as E Lakra scored the equalizer for Army XI.
The defensive play from both the sides kept the scores leveled till the far end of the match, until Poovanna of Army XI scored in the 59th minute with a drag flick that sent the ball into top right corner of the post. Army XI sealed their victory with another goal in the 64th minute of the match.
In the second match of the day, Punjab National Bank (PNB) consolidated its goal average with a 6-1 win over Baba Farid Club (BFC).
PNB took the lead in the ninth minute and doubled it in 16th when captain Jalwinder Singh Tony sent the ball home. The second half witnessed a hat-trick by Ranjit Singh of PNB, who scored in 40th, 43rd and 66th minutes of the game.