HIL 2025-26: Soorma Hockey Club thrashes SG Pipers 6-1, misses playoff spot

Soorma Hockey Club rode on Jeremy Hayward’s superb quartet to thrash S.G. Pipers 6-1 in the final round robin league match but narrowly fell short of qualifying for the playoffs of the Hockey India League at the Kalinga Stadium here on Thursday.

Soorma, needing a win by seven clear goals to displace HIL GC from the fourth spot, weas tied with Hyderabad Toofans and HIL GC on 11 points but finished agonisingly fifth.

Encouraged by its coach Philippe Goldberg’s call to score twice in each quarter, Soorma attacked from the outset and pumped in three goals inside 11 minutes.

Long balls in the air and along the carpet mixed with smart passing helped Soorma breach Pipers’ defence frequently. Hayward launched two low flicks to convert Soorma’s first two short corners and build the excitement.

Gurjant Singh dispossessed Gareth Furlong near the Pipers’ circle and passed it on to Lucas Martinez to make it 3-0.

Pipers did well to reply with some attacks, but struggled with its finishing.

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Even as the Harmanpreet Singh-led side, boosted by a dashing Victor Wegnez, looked to widen its lead and earned two more penalty corners in the second quarter, Pipers protected their citadel well.

Soorma scored its fourth as Hayward unleashed an angled flick to achieve his hat-trick early in the third period.

Pipers patiently held the ball and pulled one back through Tomas Domene’s powerful short corner goal.

Hayward’s fourth off a penalty stroke restored Soorma’s cushion but that was not enough.

Pipers defended with determination to spoil Soorma’s plans.

The top two teams, Kalinga Lancers and Ranchi Royals, will meet in the Qualifier 1, while teams taking third and fourth places, Toofans and HIL GC respectively, will face off in the eliminator on Friday.

Published on Jan 22, 2026