LAHORE, Feb 6: Punjab came back gallantly to manage a 4-4 draw against Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) as two more matches in the final round of the 56th National Hockey Championship were decided here at the National Hockey Stadium on Friday.

Hot favourites SSGC, in need of a win to remain in the contest, made a stormy start leading by 3-1 in the first half.

Rizwan Butt struck a field goal in the fifth minute for Punjab following which SSGC were on song, scoring three in a row. First Mudassar Abbas produced the equaliser in the 18th minute, then two-goal Shabbir Ahmad struck for the first time in the 32nd minute.

Shakeel Abbasi scored a field goal in the 33rd minute to make it 3-1 at the interval.

SSGC moved ahead further in the second session to make it 4-1 when Shabbir netted his second goal in the 53rd minute. But Punjab did not give up the chase and came back roaring through Moazzam Ali (58th and 67th mins) and Gohar Ali (63rd min) to share one point with SSGC, who had collected a total of 18 points from their eight outings, equalling with PIA and NBP, who have one more match remaining.

Meanwhile, Navy registered a 3-0 win against Railways. But the result will have no affect on the final position.

Navy scored through Mohammad Imran (13th min), Rashid Mehmood (25th min) and Falak Zaman (43rd min).

In the tray championship, Sindh and NWFP played 1-1 draw.

Mohammad Khalil (29th min) was the scorer for Sindh while NWFP’s Ali Hassan scored the leveller for NWFP in the 43rd minute.

Five goals by Waqas Butt and four by Mohammad Hafiz helped PTV bulldoze Capital Territories 17-0 after leading the first half by 9-0.

For the winners the scorers were: Zulfiqar (fifth and 30th mins), Javed (sixth and 21st mins), Mohammad Fayyaz (11th, 16th and 27th mins), Waqas Butt (13th, 47th, 59th, 63rd and 65th mins), Mohammad Hafiz (23rd min) Tafseer (53rd, 58th and 62nd mins), Waqar Butt (67th min).

A solitary goal by Amir Iqbal in the 69th minute provided KESC with a 1-0 win against Police.