Jugraj hat-trick powers Shrachi Bengal Tigers past Tamil Nadu Dragons

After being the top-scorer in the last edition of the Hockey India League with 12 goals, Jugraj Singh had scored just once in the first four matches of Shrachi Bengal Tigers and that too from a penalty stroke.However, he showed his class on Tuesday as he starred with a hat-trick to lead defending champions Shrachi Bengal Tigers to a 5-3 victory against Tamil Nadu Dragons at Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astro Turf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi.He opened the scoring with a stroke in the 11th minute and followed it up with two goals from the penalty corner in the 43rd and the 45th minutes to become only the second player after Kane Russell to score a hat-trick this season. The other two goals were scored by Sukhjeet Singh (33’) and Abhishek (36’).As for the Dragons, Adrohit Ekka (36’), Thomas Sorsby (48’) and Blake Govers (51’) scored the three goals.Thanks to Jugraj’s showing, Bengal Tigers grabbed their second win of the tournament in five matches and are fourth on the table with six points. Dragons, meanwhile, remain third on the table with seven points from as many games.The day, however, belonged to Jugraj who looked relieved having converted twice from the PCs. Speaking after the match, he said, “We lost three matches because we haven’t been able to convert from the PCs, but I have finally been able to do it today and we are very happy. In the next match too, our focus will be on the PCs because lots of goals are coming from it.”Bengal Tigers will next take on Hyderabad Toofans, who have also been struggling so far, while the Dragons will face off against second-placed Kalinga Lancers.Earlier, Jugraj converted a stroke in the first quarter to put Bengal Tigers in the lead after Dragon's goalkeeper David Harte had made three consecutive saves to deny them from scoring a field goal.Dragons tried their best to get back into the game, but Bengal Tigers doubled their lead early in the third quarter. Tommy Willems made a lovely run down the right, played a one-two with Abhishek and took a shot at the goal. Harte saved his shot, but the ball lobbed up, and Sukhjeet slammed it into the net.Dragons then pulled one back through Ekka, but Jugraj scored twice from the PCs in quick time. For the first, he went down the centre, and Harte got a touch to it but couldn’t stop it from going in. The second went into the top-left corner and this time the goalkeeper couldn’t even get his hands to it.In the fourth quarter, Dragons scored twice and it seemed as if they would take the match into the shoot-outs, but Abhishek sealed the deal for Bengal Tigers when he got a touch to Tom Grambusch’s shot from the PC.