Skipper’s brace helps Marine Lines school stun champions Don Bosco to win Ahmed Sailor title
Our Lady of Dolours’ captain Tikaram Thakulla scored twice to help the Marine Lines school stun defending champions Don Bosco (Matunga) 3-2 to clinch the Ahmed Sailor league-cum-knockout boys’ U-16 hockey title at the MHAL-Mahindra Stadium, Churchgate yesterday.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Dolours boys pose with their trophy. Pics/Suresh KK
Dolours took the lead in the eighth minute when Bhim Batala scored off a penalty stroke. Five minutes later, Tikaram doubled the lead scoring off a fine field goal. Trailing 0-2, the Bosco boys made a brilliant comeback in the second half, when Ayush Shetty scored twice — in the 22nd and the 23rd minutes to make it 2-2. However, Tikaram stamped his authority on the final with a brilliant solo effort (29th minute) for 3-2.
Tikaram was glad his team finally put it across the Bosco boys. “I was a part of the Dolours team that lost to Don Bosco thrice before. Our coach Bawa (Marzban Patel) told us that they are a consistent side and that we’ll need to play our best to beat them. I’m relieved we finally did it,” said Tikaram, a Class X student.
Meanwhile, Don Bosco captain Mihir Patil said his team was a tad overconfident. “We lacked co-ordination and stamina. Most importantly we were overconfident,” he said.
In the Panchgani Old Boys final for girl’s U-16, St Joseph’s (Bandra) beat Duruelo Convent (Bandra) 3-0. Jemimah Rodrigues scored a brace, while Joanka D’Souza added the third goal.