Tom Boon shines with five goals in dominant performance
Ranchi Royals delivered a spectacular performance on Wednesday, crushing SG Pipers with a 6-2 victory in the ongoing Men’s Hockey India League (HIL). Playing at the Marang Gomke Astro Turf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi, the home team treated their fans to a goal-scoring masterclass led by their captain, Tom Boon.
Boon's Five-Goal Heroics
The undisputed star of the night was Tom Boon, who single-handedly dismantled the opposition's defense. The Ranchi Royals skipper was in lethal form, netting an incredible five goals. Mandeep Singh also contributed to the scoreboard, adding one goal to the tally. For SG Pipers, Tomas Domene and Gareth Furlong managed to score one goal each, but it was not enough to stop the Royals' onslaught.
Match Highlights
Action kicked off with high energy as Ranchi Royals dominated possession early on. Although SG Pipers threatened to score in the fourth minute, a brilliant goal-line clearance kept them at bay. The deadlock was finally broken in the 13th minute when Mandeep Singh found the back of the net, giving the Royals a 1-0 lead to end the first quarter.
Momentum shifted slightly in the second quarter. Boon opened his account with a calm penalty stroke to double the lead. However, SG Pipers fought back, earning a penalty corner that Tomas Domene converted, narrowing the score to 2-1 at halftime.
Royals Seal the Deal
The third quarter saw SG Pipers briefly level the score at 2-2 through a Gareth Furlong penalty corner. This equalizer seemed to wake up the beast in the home team. Almost immediately, Tom Boon struck twice in quick succession through penalty corners, completing his hat-trick and restoring a comfortable 4-2 lead.
In the final quarter, the Royals showed no mercy. Boon added two more goals to his personal tally - one from close range and another penalty corner in the dying seconds. This emphatic 6-2 win has boosted the Ranchi Royals to fourth place in the league standings, making a strong statement in the Hockey India League.
