Haryana Steelers edge out Puneri Paltan

Tribune News Service 

Chandigarh, October 17

Prashanth Kumar Rai scored 12 points as Haryana Steelers beat hosts Puneri Paltan 31-27 in their Pro Kabaddi League match at Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune. Surender Nada scored four tackle points for the side. 

Haryana Steelers are currently second in Zone A table with 79 points, while Puneri Paltan are third at 74 points from 20 matches.

Deepak Niwas Hooda opened the scoring for Puneri Paltan with a two-point raid in the first minute before Rai got the Steelers’ going in the second minute with a successful raid. 

Hooda made another two-point raid in the fourth minute to give Pune 5-1 lead, but the Steelers leveled the match at 7-7 in the ninth minute.

It was an evenly contested first half as both teams were tied 11-11 after the end of the first half. 

Puneri Paltan’s defence had a quiet first half as they could manage just three tackle points. The second half followed a similar pattern as both teams were evenly matched.

Hooda scored with a two-point raid in the 25th minute to give Pune a 15-12 lead, but Rai responded with a super raid in the next minute as Haryana drew parity at 15-15.

In the 32nd minute, Puneri Paltan forced a super tackle to go 20-18 up. Two minutes later, Girish Ernak scored with a super raid to extend the Puneri lead to 23-20. 

Haryana Steelers though fought back to inflict an all out in the 35th minute and secure a slender lead over their opponents (25-24).

In the 37th minute, Rai scored a raid point for the Steelers to widen the wedge (27-24).

Puneri Paltan scored a raid and a tackle point in the next minute to reduce the deficit, but Rai sealed Puneri Paltan’s fate with a two-point

raid in the 40th minute as Haryana Steelers led 30-26. The side eventually won 31-27.