LAHORE, Jan 30 While defending champions PIA earned easy victory, Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) struggled to edge past their respective opponents in the final round of the 56th National Hockey Championship at the National Hockey Stadium here on Friday.

The national carriers outplayed Navy 3-0 after a barren first half.

Olympian Shafqat Rasool opened the account, scoring a field goal in the 48th minute. Mehmood Ali increased the lead to 2-0 in the 58th minute and Kashif converted a penalty-corner to seal the fate of the match in the 65th minute.

SSGC drafted a 3-2 win against Railways after having led the first half by 1-0. Olympian Shakeel Abbasi converted a penalty-stroke in the 25th minute to provide the winners with a 1-0 lead, which remained so till halftime. Saleem Khalid made it 2-0 in the 38th minute through a field goal.

Adnan Aslam came to the rescue of Railways by scoring through a penalty-corner in the 40th minute to reduce the deficit to 2-1. While a 50th minute strike by Abbas Haider again increased SSGC`s lead by 3-1, Hafiz Sohail struck in the 61st minute crowning a field attempt for the losers but only to make it 3-2.

A 64th minute goal from Mohammad Taufeeq helped NBP chalk up 2-1 win against Army after taking a 1-0 lead at half time.

The bankers drew first blood through Mohammad Atiq, who cashed in on a short-corner in the ninth minute. The 1-0 lead remained intact till halftime.

The second session saw Army drawing the equaliser in the 37th minute to make the score 1-1. But Taufeeq`s goal, scored through field attempt in the 64th minute proved decisive.

Eight more final round and tray championship matches will be played on Saturday.

Final round HBL v SSGC; Port Qasim v Wapda; Army v Punjab; Navy v NBP.

Tray championship Sindh v KESC; Steel Mills v NWFP; PAF v PTV; Balochistan v Capital Territories.