KARACHI: Defending champions National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) breezed past low-profile Balochistan 9-0 to emerge pool “A” champions as one-sided matches continued in the 34th National Junior Hockey Championship at the Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium on Saturday.

The triumph includes yet another hat-trick, sixth of the event, by full back Mubashir Ali off penalty corners in 21st, 23rd and 54th minutes. Shan Irshad and Aamir Ali struck a brace apiece while Ateeq Arshad and Raheel added once to complete the rout.

The bankers together with Railways completed their league engagements and stormed into quarter-finals as No 1 and 2 teams.

The top two positions in the other three pools will become clear when the league matches concludes on Sunday.

Former champions Wapda thumped Sindh 5-0 to register second straight victory in four-team pool “C”. They had beaten Pak Board by the identical scoreline on Friday.

Back-to-back goals by Shahbaz in the ninth and 21st minutes, the second of penalty corner, and another brace by Mateen in a span of five minutes off PC’s in the 41st and 46th minutes guided Wapda to maintain winning spree. Sohail Anjum completed the tally in 60th minute.

This was first defeat of the Sindh outfit in two games. They were home 12-0 against Gilgit-Baltistan the other day. The Sindh-Pakistan Board clash on Sunday will decide as to which team will join Wapda from the pool in quarters.

In the third match, Pak Board conjured up a 4-0 victory over Gilgit-Baltistan. Aamir Farooq, M. Murtaza, Shahbaz and M. Sufyan (penalty stroke) netted a goal each for the winners.

Punjab “A” trounced Army 4-1 in the pool “D” match. Mudassir opened their account in the 17th minute while Ahmed Nadeem consolidated the lead in 29th minute to enjoy 2-0 lead at half time. Asif Ali and M. Ahad netted once in 52nd and 55th minutes.

Sunday’s fixtures:

Wapda v Gilgit-Baltistan at 8am; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa v Punjab “A” at 10am; Pak Board v Sindh at 3pm; SSGC v PIA at 5pm.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2015

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