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Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers sealed a spot in semifinals of the ongoing Hockey India League (HIL) season on Monday (January 27) with a solid 5-3 win over Delhi SG Pipers. They are on top of the points table with six wins and three losses and 18 points to their name. The Rupinder Pal Singh-led side is the only team to not have won or lost a single game in a shootout this season, so far.
They have been extremely clinical with their play right through the tournament, scoring 23 goals while conceding 21 as well. The Tigers began their campaign on a brilliant note, winning their first three matches of the season. They defeated Hyderabad Toofans 3-2, Team Gonasika 2-1, and Delhi SG Pipers 4-1. However, Kalinga Lancers thumped them 6-0 in a heavily one-sided encounter.
It seemed as if they didn’t recover from the heavy loss with Tamil Nadu Dragons also taking them down 1-2 in the next face-off. But then, thanks to some impressive hockey by their key players, the Tigers staged a comeback to beat UP Rudras 5-3. But then, the Soorma Hockey Club got the better of them in a thriller by a 1-2 margin.
But the Bengal Tigers regrouped and made a stunning comeback to beat Lancers 5-3 and then kept the Pipers winless beating them by a 2-1 margin. It has been a refreshing performance from the team, especially at the back end of the season. Their penalty corner specialist Jugraj Singh has scored 8 goals, all on penalty corners, and is the highest scorer for them.
Captain Rupinder Pal Singh and Kane Russell are next in the list with five and four goals respectively so far while Sukhjeet Singh and Abhishek have scored three field goals each.
Bengal Tigers’ road to HIL semifinals
Won vs Hyderabad Toofans 3-2
Won vs Team Gonasika 2-1
Won vs Delhi SG Pipers 4-1
Lost vs Kalinga Lancers 0-6
Lost vs Tamil Nadu Dragons 1-2
Won vs UP Rudras 5-3
Lost vs Soorma Hockey Club 1-2
Won vs Kalinga Lancers 5-3
Won vs Delhi SG Pipers 2-1
?? vs Soorma Hockey Club