HIL | Lancers prove too good for Pipers

Thierry Brinkman shines as Vedanta Kalinga Lancers dominate Delhi SG Pipers 5-1 in Hockey India League.

Thierry Brinkman struck a magnificent brace as Vedanta Kalinga Lancers decimated Delhi SG Pipers 5-1 in the Hockey India League at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium here on Thursday.

Lancers’ third win improved their position to the third spot, while Pipers, who wasted 11 penalty corners, continued to languish at the bottom after their sixth successive defeat.

Pipers showed promise with 10 circle entries in the opening period before flattering to deceive.

Lancers, who penetrated the ‘D’ four times, went up in the 11th minute. Briton Nicholas Bandurak dashed into the circle and unleashed a shot before spectacularly scoring off the rebound.

Pipers moved the ball well on both flanks and kept the Lancers under pressure with more raids. In the closing moments of the second quarter, Jake Whetton’s long pass could not be utilised by Iktidar Ishrat as Pipers struggled with their finishing.

Pipers continued to press and secured three more penalty corners close to the half-time, but could not put it past the vigilant Krishan Pathak.

Lancers made good use of the counter-attacks to grab the momentum by getting four goals within nine minutes of the third quarter even as Pipers missed the services of Jarmanpreet Singh at the back.