Rhinos test for faltering Wizards

Uttar Pradesh Wizards will seek to avenge their defeat in their last match against Ranchi Rhinos when the two sides meet in a Hockey India League tie here on Saturday.

Wizards would hope that their skipper V R Raghunath regains his scoring touch in order to get past the Rhinos, who currently are placed second behind leaders Delhi Waveriders.

The Roelant Oltmans-coached Wizards went down 1-3 to the Rhinos in Ranchi on Thursday and the loss could be attributed to their inability to convert five of the six penalty corners earned in the match.

Raghunath clearly looked off-colour in the last game as he wasted all the five penalty corners he was involved in.

The Wizards are now placed third in the points table with 15 points behind the Rhinos (17). But with a win on home turf on Saturday, the UP side has a chance to jump to one spot up the order.

In their last game the Rhinos were a far better team, but the Wizards managed to stay in the hunt till the last five minutes, thanks to their goalkeeper George Bazeley.

The home crowd support could well play a big factor in spurring the Wizards and helping the team get back to winning ways.
Waveriders would like to continue their winning run when they take on laggards Mumbai Magicians in New Delhi in another match on Saturday.

Led by the inspirational Sardar Singh, the Waveriders are going through a dream run, having won four and settled for a draw out of their five games in the event so far.
Playing in front of a home crowd, the Waveriders are expected to enjoy a clear upper-hand over the Magicians.

The Waveriders will go into the match full of confidence after coming out on top in their recent 6-4 goal-fest against the Magicians three days back in Mumbai.

The Delhi strikers are in good form and will test Mumbai’s defence and struggling custodian P R Sreejesh, who had conceded a whopping 19 goals in five games.

The only concern for the hosts is the poor penalty corner conversion as drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh has been off-colour in the five games so far.

The Magicians, on the other hand, would be desperate to end a dismal run by registering their first win in the tournament.

The Mumbai side lost 3-4 to Jaypee Punjab Warriors on Thursday, their fifth straight defeat in the event.