HIL 2025-26: Ranchi Royals caps off home leg with third win on the trot

Ranchi Royals continued its winning run in the men’s Hockey India League (HIL) 2025-26, registering its third win on the trot to prevail 4-1 over Soorma Hockey Club in its final home game of the season in Ranchi on Friday.

A brace from Tom Boon (20’, 22’) and goals from Mandeep Singh (47’) and Manmeet Singh Rai (14’) helped Royals jump to third place on the points table.

Jeetpal (52’) scored the only goal for Soorma.

It was an engaging start to the game with both teams looking to lay down the marker in the early exchanges.

Soorma earned its first penalty corner within the first five minutes, creating the first set-piece opportunity of the game. Despite three penalty corners (PC) in the first quarter, it couldn’t find a way past Suraj Karkera in Royals’ goal.

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Both the teams had eight circle entries in the first 15 minutes but it was the Royals which took the lead against the run of play after Sam Lane’s clever deflection found its way to Manmeet. The midfielder managed to guide the ball into the back of the net, putting his side in the ascendancy towards the end of the first quarter.

Having got the lead, the Royals grew in confidence and began to spring passes around to stretch the Soorma defence.

It soon doubled its lead courtesy Boon scoring from close range after Lachlan Sharp’s initial effort fell his way in the circle.

The Belgian then converted his dragflick from a PC two minutes later, giving the Royals a three goal cushion as it dominated the contest heading into half time.

Soorma had the majority of possession in the second half as it looked to find some momentum.

It was a whisker away from netting a goal before it was cleared off the line by Joshua Beltz, keeping Royals’ three goal advantage intact.

The host also had a couple of chances of its own, most notably with Lane’s shot on target, in the third quarter where it controlled the tempo.

Royals put the result beyond all doubt early in the final quarter with Araijeet Singh Hundal setting up Mandeep. The latter rounded the Soorma keeper before scoring a fourth goal for his side, reflecting its supremacy in this contest.

With eight minutes to go in the contest, Soorma continued to push forward and found the back of the net as Jeetpal scored a consolation for it.

With this win Royals climbed to third in the table, while Soorma stays at seventh.

Published on Jan 16, 2026