Jugraj Singh struck his first hat-trick of the season as defending champions Bengal Tigers registered a commanding 5-3 victory over Tamil Nadu Dragons in a high-scoring Hockey India League clash in Ranchi on Tuesday.
The result provided a timely boost for the Tigers, who had started the night in seventh place. The three points lifted them up to fourth in the standings, keeping their title defence firmly on track. Alongside Jugraj’s treble, goals from Sukhjeet Singh and Abhishek ensured the Tigers had just enough firepower to withstand a spirited late surge from the Dragons.
The Tigers began on the front foot, with Abhishek creating the first clear opportunity of the match, though the early pressure did not immediately translate into a goal. The breakthrough came in the 11th minute when the Dragons conceded a penalty stroke following a defensive infringement. Jugraj stepped up and made no mistake, firing a low and powerful effort past goalkeeper David Harte to open the scoring.
While the second quarter remained goalless, the Dragons enjoyed more possession and created better chances, testing the Tigers’ defensive structure. However, the momentum shifted decisively after the break. The third quarter started with a superb team goal, as a flowing move involving Tommy Willems and Abhishek was neatly finished by Sukhjeet in the 33rd minute to double the Tigers’ lead.
The Dragons responded quickly through Adrohit Ekka, who converted from a penalty corner in the 36th minute to bring his side back into contention. Any hopes of a sustained comeback were short-lived, as Jugraj took control of the contest. The defender struck twice in quick succession, scoring in the 43rd and 45th minutes to complete his hat-trick and restore the Tigers’ two-goal cushion.
The final quarter brought fresh drama as the Dragons mounted a late charge. Goals from Thomas Sorsby in the 48th minute and Blake Govers in the 51st reduced the deficit to just one, forcing a tense spell for the Tigers’ defence. However, the champions showed composure under pressure.
Abhishek sealed the contest in the 55th minute with a clever penalty corner variation, positioning himself perfectly to deflect Tom Grambusch’s dragflick into the net. The goal re-established a two-goal lead and left the Dragons with too little time to mount another comeback, as the Tigers closed out an important and confidence-boosting win.
