Canara Bank overcame some late attack of nerves to prevail over a fighting Hindustan Aeronautic Limited (HAL) 4-2 in the Synergy Sports tier I Super Division hockey league here at the KSHA Stadium on Monday.
The eventual two-goal gulf between the sides hardly reflected the intensity of the encounter as both teams traded attacks almost incessantly in the second-half.
Canara Bank seized the initiative with a sixth-minute strike by Dinesh when the lanky forward’s hit was deflected into his own goal by Nagasreeni.  Canara players displayed their attacking prowess though HAL too showed their grit with some occasional moves.
One of those intrusions into the rival goalmouth brought the equaliser in the 30th minute when Rajesh took advantage of a defensive lapse. After changing ends, Canara Bank fought back with equal ferocity and their tactic was rewarded with a goal just two minutes into the half as Dinesh slotted past rival custodian Praveen M K, who mistimed his charge. Six minutes later, Canara went 3-1 up when Varun ended a counter-attack from the left with a stunning hit to the right corner of the goal.
The two-goal deficit never doused HAL’s fiery instincts though they spoiled several scoring chances. Abhinav made up for an early mistake with a splendid pass which was turned in by Ilavarasan.
From then on, it was a battle of nerves and Canara slotted one more six minutes from hooter when Bipin Bopaiah trapped a free-hit and his eventual  reverse hit inside the shooting circle was neatly deflected in by Dinesh.
Other result: Fortis: 5 (Kulbhushan 19th, Sandeep Michael 20th, 30th, 47th, Virendra Lakra 34th) bt Army Green: 2 (Sanjeev Singh 4th, Jerome Kujur 39th).