Ranchi Royals put on a commanding display in the Men’s Hero Hockey India League 2025-26, crushing SG Pipers 6-2 at home with captain Tom Boon stealing the spotlight through a sensational five-goal performance. The emphatic win underlined the Royals’ attacking strength and lifted them to fourth place on the points table.
Boon Leads the Charge in Dominant Win
Captain Tom Boon led from the front, scoring five goals in a remarkable outing. Mandeep Singh added another for the hosts, while SG Pipers found the net through Tomas Domene and Gareth Furlong. The home crowd witnessed a high-energy contest, with the Royals eventually pulling away through superior finishing and relentless pressure.
Early Pressure but Royals Strike First
Ranchi Royals enjoyed more possession in the opening minutes and created the first attacking chances. However, SG Pipers soon settled and nearly took the lead in the fourth minute when Dilraj Singh’s shot was dramatically cleared off the line by a Royals defender.
As the quarter progressed, both teams attacked with intent and entered the circle regularly. Eventually, the breakthrough came for the hosts in the 13th minute. Mandeep Singh found space inside the circle and calmly finished to give Ranchi Royals a 1-0 lead. The Royals nearly doubled the advantage at the end of the quarter after earning a penalty corner, but a poor trap denied them as the first period ended with a slim lead.
Royals Extend Lead, Pipers Hit Back
Ranchi Royals increased their lead early in the second quarter when the umpire awarded a penalty stroke for a stick tackle. Captain Tom Boon stepped up and converted confidently in the 17th minute to make it 2-0.
SG Pipers responded with sustained pressure and finally found a breakthrough of their own. Tomas Domene converted a penalty corner in the 20th minute, cutting the deficit to one goal. The Royals continued to attack and earned more penalty corners, but they failed to convert, allowing SG Pipers to stay in the contest as the teams went into halftime with the score at 2-1.
Boon’s Double Turns the Match
SG Pipers carried their momentum into the third quarter and were rewarded when Gareth Furlong converted a penalty corner in the 39th minute to level the score at 2-2.
However, the joy was short-lived. Ranchi Royals struck back almost immediately, with Tom Boon scoring twice in quick succession. He converted penalty corners in the 40th and 41st minutes to complete his hat-trick and restore a two-goal cushion. The hosts entered the final quarter firmly in control at 4-2.
Royals Finish in Style
SG Pipers tried to push forward in the final quarter, hoping for a comeback. Instead, Ranchi Royals tightened their grip on the match. Boon scored his fourth goal in the 50th minute with a powerful close-range finish, effectively sealing the result.
The Royals refused to ease off and continued attacking until the final whistle. In the dying seconds, Boon converted yet another penalty corner in the 60th minute to complete a memorable five-goal haul. The match ended 6-2 in favour of Ranchi Royals, capping off a dominant home performance and reinforcing their credentials as a strong attacking side in the league.