Boon’s ’trick powers Royals into the final

Ranchi Royals’ captain Tom Boon celebrated his 36^th birthday in style as he scored a magnificent hat-trick to avenge his side’s defeat to Hyderabad Toofans with a thrilling 3-2 win in Qualifier 2 and take it to the Hockey India League final at the Kalinga Stadium here on Sunday.

Royals will meet Vedanta Kalinga Lancers once again in the Republic Day title clash on Monday.

Toofans seized initiative by striking home in the fifth minute. The agile Rajinder Singh entered from the right and perfectly passed it on to an unmarked Jacob Anderson with a reverse stick from a crowded circle. The Australian completed the formalities.

As end-to-end hockey enhanced the excitement, Royals enterprising forwards’ first big attempt was wasted.

However, they did not have to wait much. Their second penalty corner got converted into a penalty stroke and Boon sent goalkeeper Jean-Paul Danneberg the other way to draw parity in the 13th minute.

At the stroke of the first quarter, Royals earned another short corner and Boon’s deceptive, angled and low flick beat Danneberg on the right to put the green shirts ahead.

Both sides earned a short corner apiece in the second period but Toofans maintained pressure on the Royals post.
Early into the second half, Royals earned another penalty corner through a successful video referral and Boon shot through the first rusher’s legs to find the mark expertly. He achieved his hat-trick and tightened the Royals’ grip over the contest.

With Michel Struthoff and Zach Wallace playing crucial roles, Toofans’ doggedness got them three penalty corners and Amandeep Ekka closed the gap with an effortless conversion.

Toofans, who missed Struthoff for most of the fourth quarter due to an injury, pulled out Dannerberg with more than three minutes left, but to no avail.

Royals got enough reasons to celebrate the birthday of Boon and Mandeep Singh.

The result: Ranchi Royals 3 (Tom Boon 13-ps, 15-pc, 34-pc) bt Hyderabad Toofans 2 (Jacob Anderson 5, Amandeep Ekka 38-pc).