HERO HIL: Uttar Pradesh Wizards Start Hero Hockey India League on a Winning Note

Jalandhar, January 17, 2013:Jaypee Punjab Warriors’ wait for a victory was extended to three games on Thursday when the hosts succumbed to a 2-1 loss against Uttar Pradesh Wizards in the inaugural Hero Hockey India League at the Surjit Singh stadium here.

Looking for that elusive win, the Punjab side came out all guns blazing against the Wizards but their inability to convert the four penalty corners and a stroke of bad luck cost the Jamie Dwyer led side dearly.

With both teams locked at 1-1, an error from Warrior’s goalkeeper Jaap Stockmann handed the lead to the Wizards in the 58^th minute and the visitors ensured that there were no last minute hiccups.

Stockmann, who was outstanding under the bar till then, inadvertently directed a hit of Wizards’ skipper V R Raghunath into his own goal.

Earlier, Jeroen Hertzberger had put the Wizards ahead in the 17^th minute but Dwyer got his team back in the match with a 40^th minute strike.

“We seem to not find goals. Also we have conceded three own goals and that is an area of concern,” said Dwyer, while referring to the second goal of Wizards.

But for that stroke of bad luck, the Warriors did everything to change their fortunes. They showed the intent to push more bodies forward from the start and the approach looked like bearing fruit as the Warriors registered regular circle penetration in the first quarter and even earned two penalty corners.

Sukhdev Singh got the best opportunity to put his team in the lead in the 15^th minute but he could not give the right direction to a pin-point cross from his captain Jamie Dwyer.

And the visitors made them pay for the lapse immediately. Spanish midfielder David Alegre made a fine run inside the striking circle from the right and Joleh Hertzberger had to only tap in his cross to put the Wizards in lead.

But the hosts showed more intent after the half time and were duly rewarded when Dwyer tapped in to equalise after Shivender Singh had surged in from the right.

Both teams then upped the ante to find the winner and it was finally a stroke of luck that handed five full points to the Wizards.

Coach Barry Dancer Said “We missed too many opportunities today; else we would have had a better score line. The team has improved and is doing well and I am happy with our play. We should have a better game with Mumbai.”

Speaking about the team’s victory Coach Oltmans said “We are happy with our first game, our goal keeper being the best in Australia has performed really well here. We changed our strategy from the third quarter and attached which worked really well for us.”

The Hero Hockey India League is organised by Hockey India with official sanction from the International Hockey Federation (FIH). The inaugural season is being played from January 14 to February 10, 2013 in a home-and-away format. The five franchisee-based teams, consisting of the top hockey players from India and around the world, will compete for the prestigious trophy. Hero Motocorp Ltd. is the Title Sponsor of the league while Airtel is the Associate Sponsor. Star Sports, who is the Broadcast Partner, will be telecasting all matches live.

In their next home match, Jaypee Punjab Warriors will take on Uttar Pradesh Warriors again on Tuesday 22^nd January at 8 p.m. and Uttar Pradesh Warriors will take on Delhi Waveriders in Lucknow on 19^th January at 11:30 a.m.

Tomorrow Ranchi Rhinos will take on Mumbai Magicians on their home turf at 8 p.m.

Man of the Match: Jolie Wouter

Hero Goal of the Match: Jeroen Hertzberger

Scores:

Jaypee Punjab Warriors 1 (Jamie Dwyer 40) lost to Uttar Pradesh Wizards 1 (Jeroen Hertzberger 17, Jaap Stockmann 58 OG)