LAHORE, Jan 15: Reigning champions PIA, continued their winning spree when they defeated Army 3-0 to record third consecutive win in 50th National Hockey Championship departmental qualifying rounds at the National Hockey Stadium on Wednesday.

The previous two victories of the national carrier were against Railways and PTV.

Ali Raza scored two goals to make things easier for PIA as soldiers did not put up a good performance.

Ali converted the second penalty-corner in the 8th minute to put PIA ahead 1-0.

He was again on target converting a fifth penalty-corner in the 24th minute to double the lead. Champions led 2-0 at half time.

In the second half Army played a defensive game to ward off several attacks by their rivals. PIA, eventually broke through the defence when Muhammad Usman scored a field goal off a pass from Inam-ur-Rehman in the 63rd minute.

In another match, PAF held Police to a 2-2 draw when Anwar Hussain struck an equaliser three minutes into the second half.

Police went ahead in the 5th minute when captain Shahbaz Junior converted a penalty-stroke.

Asghar Asim crowned a field attempt to restore the parity in the 20th minute. But Police again surged ahead 2-1 when Javed Iqbal banged home a field goal, just one minute before the half time whistle.

National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) beat Railways 2-0 in their second straight win in the championship.

NBP started the match at a fast pace scoring both goals in the first 18 minutes of play.

Railways, mainly comprising of newly discovered talent from Gojra, a area well known for introducing players to national hockey, conceded two quick goals after which they tried to shore up their defence but all in vain.

Asim Khan, scored for the bankers in the 5th minute through a field goal. Naeem Akbar doubled the lead in the 18th minute when he converted the fourth penalty-corner.

Today’s fixture.

Wapda vs UGC; Navy vs Customs; PTV v Railways; POF vs HBL; PTCL v ABL; PIA v NBP.