Star-studded Railways posted a comprehensive 3-0 victory over a rookie-packed Haryana side to claim their 21st women's National hockey title on the trot at the Shivaji Stadium in Delhi on Thursday.
Railways kept up the pressure on Haryana, who have lost many of their experienced players due to switch-over to other teams, throughout the match and never looked threatened despite conceding five penalty-corners.
A fast-moving Saba Anjum drew the first blood in the second minute while Surinder Kaur (16th) and Masira Surin (67th) shot home to keep Railways' winning streak in the Nationals intact.
The energetic Anjum opened the account early for the Railways when she dived from the right to deflect a ball after it was hit off a penalty-corner.
Twelve minutes later Railways got back-to-back penalty-corners, one of which brought the second goal. After execution of the hit, Surinder Kaur connected the ball into the net from the left to extend the lead.
Railways' strikers created at least a couple of good moves that went futile because of lack of accuracy in execution.
A beautiful pass from Mamta Kharab from the midfield bisected the Haryana defence and entered the striking circle, but Anjum could not meet the ball.
On another occasion, Anjum provided a good ball to Surinder Kaur inside the circle, but the latter's hit was padded by Haryana goalkeeper Jasdeep Kaur.
The second half was comparatively dull with Railways failing to convert any of the five penalty-corners they earned.
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