Dutch Practice Tour: Indian hockey eves continue losing spree

File Photo of the Indian women’s hockey team. (Getty Images)

Indian women’s hockey team continued their dismal run in the exposure trip to the Netherlands as part of their preparations for the FIH Hockey World League semifinals.

The world number twelve ranked Indians went down tamely 1-4 to Dutch club side HC MOP in their third practice match – the Dutch side are one of the bottom-placed club sides in the Dutch Hockey League.

HC MOP dominated the exchanges from the starting hooter, not allowing enough space for the Indians to control the game.

Sophie Bray gave the Dutch club side an early lead in the first half before doubling the advantage in the same half.

HC MOP held sway over Indian eves in the second stanza. Their possessional play soon translated into their third goal when donja Zwinkels sounded the board.

Lieke van Wijk made the most of a penalty corner to make the scoreline 4-0.

India found some solace when experienced Poonam Rani rattled the opposition cage even as the Dutch club side walked away with a comprehensive victory.

Earlier, the Indian hockey eves were handed a 0-9 walloping by the Netherlands national side. The women in orange toyed with the Indian defence, breaching their citadel at will.

India struggled to maintain possession and largely played into the hands of the Dutch national side, which dictated terms from the start of play.

The Netherlands eves punches holes in the defence, which was caught napping time and again.

The Ritu Rani-led Indian outfit earlier kickstarted their campaign in the Dutch tour on a winning note, scraping past Hockey Club Rotterdam 4-3 at the Rotterdam Hockey Stadium.

India women started in belligerent fashion orchestrating attacking raids from both flanks. Poonam Rani gave the women in blue the lead in the eight minute.

Hockey Club Rotterdam’s riposte was robust. They restored parity in the thirteenth minute scoring a field goal before pulling ahead in the 19th minute four minutes later.

Trailing 1-2, Indian eves pulled up their socks, combining well upfront and kept creating scoring chances.

Vastly experienced Ritu Rani equalized in the 51 minute before Namita Toppo sounded the board in the 57th minute to bring things on an even level.

Experienced Ritu Rani scored the match-clincher in the 62 minute, converting a penalty stroke – her second goal of the match.

At the upcoming FIH Women Hockey World League Round- 3 semifinals in Rotterdam, Indian eves would be pitted alongside 3rd ranked New Zealand, 5th ranked Germany, and 13th ranked Belgium in Pool B, while hosts the Netherlands would be pitted against China, Korea, Japan and China in Pool A.