KARACHI: Holders Wapda, Punjab Colours and Army consolidated their positions chalking up second straight victories as Railways opened their account in the 28th National Women’s Hockey Championship at Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium on Thursday.

Six-time champions Wapda got the better of Higher Education Commission (HEC), winning 3-0 after the barren first-half to stay unbeaten in Group ‘A’.

Having beaten Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 20-1 the other day, Wapda were kept at bay until the 59th minute but they managed to score three quick goals in a 10-minute span.

Ambreen Arshad broke the deadlock with a field goal before Ishrat Abbas consolidated their lead, scoring off penalty corner in 64th minute and Kulsoom completed the tally a minute before the final whistle.

In an earlier match, Punjab Colours blanked Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by a tennis score of 6-0 after, enjoying a 3-0 lead at half time.

Shenila Babar two (19th, 54th), Mariam Mansha two (32nd, 66th) off penalty corners, Ramsha Ilyas (28th) and Sidra Ayub (42nd) earned the scoring honours for winners who had defeated Sindh Colours 3-2 in opener.

Playing their first Group ‘B’ match, 13-time champions Railways breezed past Sindh’s Whites, the second outfit, 25-0 in the completely one-sided match. The winners led 13-0 at the breather.

Hina Kanwal and Naeema equally shared 12 goals amongst themselves, and followed by Madiha Manzoor (5), Aqsa Mumtaz (4), Shahida Kausar, Erum Hasan, Kulsoom and Marina who scored a goal each.

Former champions Army kept their chances of making the last four from Group ‘B’ alive when they humbled Punjab Whites 8-0. The winners led 5-0 at half time.

Fresh from their 15-0 triumph overly low-profile Balochistan on Wednesday, Army maintained their domination throughout and didn’t allow their opponents to reduce lead.

Iqra Javed, Sherish Kanwal and Abasha Noreen netted two goals apiece while Ayesha Rafiq and Sumera Maqbool scored one each.

Boys of tender age are defying scorching heat without wearing caps besides escaping injury as ball pickers.

Meanwhile, the event has been marred by the complete lack of coordination between technical delegate and the Sindh Women’s Hockey Association (SWHA), organisers of the event, as journalists are suffering in obtaining results.

Friday’s fixtures: Wapda v Punjab Colours (9.00am); HEC v Sindh Colours (10.30am); Railways v Balochistan (2.00pm).