Thursday’s Men’s HIL showdown at Kalinga Stadium ended in bittersweet fashion for JSW Surma Hockey Club, who overwhelmed SG Pipers 6-1 yet missed the cutoff for Qualifier 2 by a single goal. Needing seven to advance, Surma’s firepower fell agonizingly short.
The game erupted early with Jeremy Hayward’s twin strikes from penalty corners in the 2nd and 7th minutes, his drag flicks too potent for Thomas Santiago. Gurjant Singh’s vision unlocked Lucas Martinez for the third in the 11th, a counter-attack gem.
Mid-match, Surma toyed with possession while Pipers prioritized survival. Third-quarter long balls fractured the opposition defense, leading to Hayward’s third—a low, venomous flick. Domain’s reply for Pipers was a brief respite, quickly erased by Hayward’s penalty stroke mastery.
Nicolas Keenan ignited the fourth quarter with a rebound scavenger goal, pushing the tally to six. Pipers’ late resistance, bolstered by Mohit HS’s saves, preserved their slim deficit. Surma departs HIL with heads held high, their performance a testament to tactical nous and star quality, even in defeat’s shadow.