HIL GC climbed to the top of the Men’s Hero Hockey India League 2025-26 standings with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Accord Tamil Nadu Dragons at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astro Turf Hockey Stadium on Monday.
Kane Russell was the star of the night, scoring a hat-trick (14′, 33′, 47′)—his third of the season—while Sam Ward added another for HIL GC (23′). For the Dragons, Blake Govers (32′) and Uttam Singh (56′) found the net.
Accord Tamil Nadu Dragons began aggressively, with Tom Craig testing HIL GC goalkeeper James Mazarelo in the second minute. Despite the Dragons’ early pressure, HIL GC quickly asserted control. Prasant Barla’s close-range attempt in the 6th minute was saved, but HIL GC kept the momentum. Their persistence paid off in the 14th minute when Kane Russell converted a penalty corner to give HIL GC the lead.
HIL GC doubled their advantage in the 23rd minute as Lalit Kumar Upadhyay’s brilliant dribble set up Sam Ward for a neat finish. The Dragons responded after halftime with a penalty-corner goal from Blake Govers (32′), but Kane Russell immediately restored HIL GC’s two-goal cushion with his second strike of the night (33′).
The final quarter saw Kane Russell complete his hat-trick (47′) with a powerful drag flick, while the Dragons managed a consolation goal through Uttam Singh (56′). Despite 30 circle penetrations, the Dragons were limited to just two goals, highlighting HIL GC’s defensive resilience.
With this win, HIL GC now tops the table with 10 points, while Accord Tamil Nadu Dragons suffer their first defeat of the season.
Goal Scorers:
HIL GC: Kane Russell (14′, 33′, 47′), Sam Ward (23′)
Accord Tamil Nadu Dragons: Blake Govers (32′), Uttam Singh (56′)
Source: HIL
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