New Zealand veteran Ken Russell scored his third hat-trick in four matches as HIL GC defeated Tamil Nadu Dragons 4-2 to consolidate their position at the top of the eight-team Hockey India League, while handing the Dragons their first straight defeat of the season. Russell scored in the 14th, 33rd and 47th minutes, while Sam Ward scored in the 23rd minute for HIL GC, a team administered by the league’s Governing Council after the initial owners withdrew. For TN Dragons, Blake Gowers (32′) and Uttam Singh (56′) were on target during the clash at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astro Turf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi on Monday.