Central gets the better of Western

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, OCT. 10. Central Railway put up a good display to get the better of Western Railway 25-13, 25-27, 25-18, 25-16 in a round robin league match in the 24th All-India Railway volleyball championship for women at the Railway Recreation Club's indoor stadium here on Wednesday. In another match that lasted nearly 75 minutes, South Central defeated Eastern 25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 25- 18.

Central's teamwork and understanding was commendable and except for a brief period during the second game, Western could not pose a threat to the well co-ordinated Central outfit.

In the first game, Central made use of the gaps in the Western defence to chalk up vital points. Central was also guilty of similar lapses as Western was, but Central's blocking near the net was solid and smashes were accurate and this gave it a slight edge.

Western was good in patches but needed more consistency to pose a challenge. Central captain Vaishali Phadtare, Hemlata Ursal, Yogita Kitkule and Kalinali Kumtekar gave good performances as they swamped the rival outfit.

But in the second game Western hit back and levelled the game scores. Initially it was a neck to neck tussle. Central spiked with great accuracy and power but Western also gave as good as it got. Nisha Siby, Neethu Siby, Nimmy Siby (all sisters) played a key role in the fight back.

With each team leading in turn (but at no stage with more than one point margin) the score progressed to 25 all before Western maanaged to take two vital points to win the game.

But thereafter Central Railway once again established its dominance. In the third and fourth games it snuffed out Western's challenge with a tight defence, good blocking and accurate smashing. Vaishali was once again in the thick of the action and Yogita and Hemlata also played well.

The fourth game was even more one-sided. Central managed to maintain a comfortable four to five point lead all the way expcept for a period halfway through when the lead was narrowed to two points (14-12) when Western came up with a sudden burst of spirited and forceful attack. But Western was unable to maintain the tempo and fell back again and Central raced ahead to a comfortable victory.

The results:

Wednesday's results: Central bt Western 25-13, 25-27, 25-18, 25- 16; South Central bt Eastern 25- 21, 21-25, 25-20, 25-18.

Tuesday's result: Southern bt Central 29-27, 25-18, 25-27, 25-13.

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Section  : Sport
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