Hockey India League 2024/25 Points Table: Updated HIL standings on January 10

A fast and furious Hockey India League (HIL) encounter witnessed the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers going down 1-2 against the Tamil Nadu Dragons despite earning two penalty strokes on Friday (January 10).

A relatively sedate and barren first quarter was followed by an opening goal for the Tamil Nadu Dragons right at the beginning of the second quarter. The Tigers equalized off a penalty stroke early in the second half before Uttam Singh scored from open play to give his side the lead.

Rupinder Pal Singh failed to convert a second contentious penalty stroke even as David Harte had an outstanding game for the Dragons in their fifth Hockey India League game.

Early midfield tussles witnessed both sides losing the ball near the 23-meter line before Jamie Carr managed to thwart Nathan Ephraums in the 11th minute.

Karthi Selvam opened the scoring for the Dragons in the 16th minute off an assist from Uttam Singh. He very nearly manufactured a second for the Tamil Nadu side seconds later but a vital touch from Jugraj Singh saved the day for the Tigers.

David Harte took a tumble but still managed to pull off two back-to-back saves after a probing ball from Pardeep Mor resulted in a goalmouth melee in the 24th minute.

The Bengal side enjoyed a period of ascendancy during the last five minutes of the first half but paid the price for not combining well enough with their passes in the attacking circle in the crucial Hockey India League game.

A Sam Lane drag flick found the foot of a Dragons defender on the line, which led to a penalty stroke in the 35th minute. Rupinder Pal Singh made no mistake from the spot much to the delight of coach Colin Batch.

A wave of attacks resulted in a penalty corner for the Tigers in the 35th minute. Tim Cross latched onto the deflection off Sam Lane's drag flick but ended up striking the crossbar with a powerful lofted shot.

Uttam Singh had an open goal to aim at after Moritz Ludwig had managed to beat Jamie Carr with an angled cross across the face of the goal in the 37th minute thus enabling the Dragons to regain the lead.

A questionable penalty stroke awarded to the Tigers for an alleged body stop on Sukhjeet Singh had Rein van Eijk fuming but Rupinder Pal Singh was unable to strike the target in the 43rd minute.

The Tigers had the ball in the net a third time in the 47th minute but the Sudev Abharan goal was disallowed as the shot was taken after the umpire's whistle had been sounded.

A couple of yellow cards picked up by the Dragons late in the final quarter did little to curb their attacking instincts even as they kept the Tigers at bay in their circle and pulled off a second straight win.

As a result of the win, the Dragons now lead the Hockey India League points table for the first time in the competition.

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Hockey India League: Updated Points Table Men's League Phase (Friday, January 10)

	PLAYED	WON	LOST	S/O WIN	S/O LOSS	GF	GA	GD	Tam
Tamil Nadu Dragons	5	3	0	1	1	13	9	+4	12
Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers	5	3	2	0	0	10	12	-2	9
Kalinga Lancers	5	2	2	0	1	14	10	+4	7
Soorma Hockey Club	4	1	1	2	0	7	9	-2	7
UP Rudras	4	2	2	0	0	6	6	0	6
Hyderabad Toofans	4	1	2	1	0	8	8	0	5
Team Gonasika	5	1	3	0	1	12	13	-1	4
Delhi SG Pipers	4	0	1	1	2	7	10	-3	4

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Hockey India League 2024/25: Men's League Fixtures (Saturday, January 11)

Hyderabad Toofans vs Soorma Hockey Club, 6 pm IST (Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium)

Delhi SG Pipers vs UP Rudras, 8:15 pm IST (Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium)