Ranchi Royals delivered a statement performance in the Women’s Hero Hockey India League (HIL) 2025–26, registering a comprehensive 5–0 victory over Shrachi Bengal Tigers at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Astro Turf Stadium on Tuesday.
Backed by a vocal home crowd, the Royals combined pace, structure and clinical finishing to secure their second win of the season and underline their early title credentials.
Goals from Lucina von der Heyde (33’, 57’), Hannah Cotter (10’), Beauty Dungdung (14’) and Sangita Kumari (44’) reflected a performance built on sustained territorial dominance and relentless attacking intent. From the opening whistle, Ranchi Royals dictated the rhythm of the contest, controlling possession and repeatedly finding space through the flanks.
The home side’s intent was evident early on. Within the first quarter, Ranchi Royals piled pressure inside the Bengal Tigers’ circle, racking up circle entries and pinning their opponents deep. The first penalty corner of the evening arrived in the fifth minute, though the initial attempt was thwarted by a brave first rusher. The breakthrough, however, was only a matter of time.
In the 10th minute, Ranchi Royals scored the opening goal of their campaign. Sakshi Rana’s sharp pass into the circle from the left flank caused confusion in the Tigers’ defence, and New Zealand international Hannah Cotter reacted quickest to a deflection, calmly slotting the ball into the net to give the hosts a deserved lead. Shrachi Bengal Tigers earned a penalty corner soon after at the other end, but their execution lacked precision, allowing the Royals to retain control.
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The pressure intensified four minutes later when Neha won another penalty corner for Ranchi. Lucina von der Heyde’s initial effort was blocked, but Beauty Dungdung showed excellent anticipation and composure to pounce on the rebound, finishing decisively to double the advantage in the 14th minute. By the end of the first quarter, the Royals had firmly established their authority.
The second quarter followed a similar pattern, with Ranchi Royals circulating the ball confidently and stretching the Tigers’ defensive shape. Shrachi Bengal Tigers, to their credit, showed resilience and discipline at the back, relying heavily on goalkeeper Jennifer Rizzo to stay in the contest. Rizzo produced two outstanding saves late in the half, denying powerful efforts from Augustina Albertarrio and Sakshi Rana to prevent the scoreline from ballooning before the break.
Any hopes of a second-half revival for the visitors were quickly extinguished. Just three minutes into the third quarter, Ranchi Royals struck again with a goal that showcased their attacking cohesion. Lucina von der Heyde carried the ball down the left flank before combining neatly with Rutuja Dadaso Pisal on the baseline. Pisal’s perfectly weighted return pass allowed Lucina to get a touch on goal, with the deflection wrong-footing the goalkeeper and making it 3–0 in the 33rd minute.
The Royals continued to press, and their fourth goal arrived in the 44th minute. Maria Sofia Darnay created the opening with a well-timed pass from the left, picking out Sangita Kumari in front of goal. Sangita made no mistake, slapping the ball home with confidence to further energise the home supporters.
With the result effectively decided, Shrachi Bengal Tigers attempted to find a foothold in the final quarter, pushing higher up the pitch in search of a consolation goal. Ranchi Royals, however, remained composed and disciplined, choosing to sit slightly deeper and exploit counterattacking opportunities. Their defensive structure held firm, cutting out passing lanes and limiting the Tigers to low-percentage chances.
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The final word belonged to Lucina von der Heyde, who capped an influential performance with her second goal of the night. With four minutes remaining, Ranchi Royals earned another penalty corner, and Lucina delivered with a well-placed shot in the 57th minute to complete the 5–0 scoreline and seal a dominant victory.
Beyond the goals, the performance highlighted Ranchi Royals’ balance across the pitch. Their midfield control, quick ball movement on the flanks and sharp decision-making inside the circle consistently unsettled the Tigers. Defensively, they were equally impressive, allowing very little space and transitioning smoothly from defence to attack.
For Shrachi Bengal Tigers, the margin of defeat will be disappointing, but there were moments of defensive resilience, particularly in the second quarter. The challenge ahead will be to convert those phases into sustained attacking pressure and greater efficiency in the circle.
The Women’s Hero Hockey India League continues to gather momentum, with performances like this underlining the growing quality and competitiveness of the domestic game. Ranchi Royals will take confidence from this emphatic win as the season progresses, while Shrachi Bengal Tigers will look to regroup and respond in their upcoming fixtures.
All matches of the Hero Hockey India League are being broadcast live on Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 3 and DD Sports, with live streaming available on Waves and the Hockey India League YouTube channel.
