Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) Young Guns ended Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) Thunderbolts’ unbeaten run with a 2-0 win in the Division One TNB-Junior Hockey League match at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Sunday.
While UniKL celebrated the win, it also marked the first defeat for SSTMI since 2010.
The victory ensured UniKL finish third in the table standing on 19 points as Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) Thunderbolt thumped OLAK Tigers 7-1 in Ipoh to give them 21 points from nine matches and second spot behind champions SSTMI (24 points).
In the other match that had a bearing on the top four positions, Politeknik Malaysia stunned Pahang Sports School SSP-MSP Thunderbolt 3-2 in Kuantan. Despite the defeat the Pahang outfit finished fourth in the league on 16 points.
UniKL had an outside chance of retaining the second position they achieved last year had BJSS lost against OLAK.
I. Vikneswaran’s boys took the lead in the 45th minute through a Wan Haziq Hisyamuddin Wan Ameer Ruzman field goal before Ahmad Hariz Syazani Ezani rounded up the scoring with another well-orchestrated field goal in the 62nd minute.
The coach was happy with his team’s performance but admitted that with the Division One title, already wrapped up, SSTMI may not have been motivated enough.
“We played well today and took the opportunities that came our way. But SSTMI may have taken a step back because they have already retained their crown.
“My boys have been playing much better. They showed their determination and a better level of maturity as compared to earlier games. That was the positive point today,” added Vikneswaran who is glad his team is peaking at the right time.
SSTMI won RM18,000 as champions of Division One while BJSS took RM13,000 as runners-up, UniKL earned RM10,000 for their effort and fourth-place Pahang Sports School pockets RM8,000.
In Division Two, the respective group champions will receive RM7,000 each, runners-ups RM4,000, third-placed teams RM3,000 and fourth-placed RM2,000.
The quarterfinals for the TNB-MJHL Cup will be held from February 4-13.
RESULTS- DIVISION ONE – (Sunday, Feb 21): UniKL Young Guns 2 SSTMI Thunderbolts 0; SSTMI Juniors 2 Nurinsafi Hockey 2; SMK Dato’ Bentara Luar Young Guns 1 MBPJ 1; OLAK Tigers 1 BJSS Thunderbolt 7; SSP-MSP-Thunderbolt 2 Politeknik Malaysia 3.
