Bhubaneswar’s Kalinga Stadium witnessed a spectacle of hockey prowess on Thursday as JSW Surma Hockey Club thrashed SG Pipers 6-1 in their final Men’s HIL group stage clash. The emphatic victory, however, couldn’t bridge the gap to the playoffs, as Surma needed a seven-goal triumph to sneak into Qualifier 2.
Jeremy Hayward was the undisputed star, netting four goals including a hat-trick of penalty corner conversions. His first came barely two minutes in, a thunderous drag flick that left Pipers stunned. Minutes later, in the 7th, he repeated the feat, solidifying Surma’s command.
Lucas Martinez extended the lead with a sharp counter-attack finish in the 11th minute, capitalizing on Gurjant Singh’s precise pass into an open net. Surma controlled the tempo through the second quarter, frustrating Pipers’ attempts to mount a comeback.
A tactical shift in the third quarter with aerial balls created chaos in Pipers’ backline, earning Hayward his third from a penalty corner. Pipers clawed one back via Thomas Domain’s deft low flick, but Hayward’s penalty stroke goal restored the three-goal cushion.
Nicolas Keenan sealed the rout in the fourth quarter, reacting quickest to a saved shot. Pipers pushed hard late on with penalty corners, but Mohit HS’s heroics kept the scoreline at 6-1. Surma’s players gave everything, but mathematics proved unkind, ending their HIL journey prematurely.
This loss highlights the razor-thin margins in elite competition. Surma’s attacking flair shone bright, yet defensive resilience from Pipers ensured they exited with dignity intact.
