KUALA LUMPUR (31 Jan, 2016): Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) Young Guns suffered a setback following a 2-2 draw against Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) Juniors in their TNB-National Junior Hockey League match at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil today.
In the only other Division One match played, Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) Thunderbolt edged SMK Dato Bentara Luar (SMKDBL) Young Guns 2-1 at the same venue.
UniKL could only blame itself for walking away with just a point as they wasted numerous penalty corners that came their way throughout the match, while SSTMI Juniors finally recorded their first point of the tournament.
Coach I. Vikneswaran rued his side’s poor finishing and knows that his side can ill afford any more mistakes if they are to make the quarter-finals of the TNB-Junior Cup.
“I prepared the boys well for this match, but their finishing let them down today. SSTMI Juniors did well today. We can’t take anything away from them. The result just goes to show that there are no small teams in the league,” said Vikneswaran.
UniKL opened the scoring in the 13th minute through Wan Haziq Hisyamuddin Wan Ameer Ruzman’s field goal but SSTMI Juniors were level three minutes later when Muhd Badrul Amin Mohd tucked away a penalty corner.
UniKL snatched the lead before half-time through a penalty corner from Muhd Zul Yadain Kasman. However, the STTMI Juniors clawed back in search of the equaliser when Muhd Fikri Amer Runnizar tucked away a decently worked penalty corner at the hour mark.
Dato’ Bentara Luar opened the scoring through Zulsyafiq Amirul Mohd Noorzailan in the 26th minute but BJSS drew level through a 42nd minute field goal from Muhd Hafizhuddin Zaidi while Abdul Syafiq Abdul Razak wrapped up the scoring and full points in the 64th minute also through a field goal.
UniKL remain third in the group on 10 points from six matches, while BJSS Thunderbolt are in fourth spot with nine points from four matches. SMKDBL are eighth with four points from six matches while SSTMI Juniors are rock bottom with one point from five matches.
SSTMI Thunderbolts and Pahang Sports School Thunderbolt are currently enjoying first and second spots in the standings with 15 and 12 points respectively.
In Division Two, MSS Kedah kept their hopes of a quarter-finals berth alive in Group A with a 5-1 win over MATRI in Kangar.
In other group matches played Perlis Young Lion Juniors played out a drab 0-0 draw with Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK) in Kuala Perlis while KHA Kedah Juniors beat SM Sains Raja Tun Azlan Shah 3-1.
The results see MSS Kedah move to second by virtue of a better goal difference despite sharing 12 equal points from five matches. MSN Perlis Young Lion Junior and Penang Sports Council remain first and third respectively on 15 and 12 points.
In Group B, Anderson PHA powered past Kuala Lumpur Sport School 4-2 at the Ministry of Education Turf in Pantai Baru.
In Group C, Malacca High School-Hercules moved to the top of the group following a 1-1 draw with Pahang Hockey Academy in Temerloh while Terengganu Sports Council (MSNT/PHT) and Tunku Besar Secondary School Tampin (TBSS) also registered the same score line.
The results see Malacca High School-Hercules lead with 14 points from six matches while TBSS are second on 13 points. Sabah Sports School, who were not in action this weekend, remain third on nine points from four matches.
Results – Div One: BJSS Thunderbolt 2 SMKDBL Young Guns 1, UNIKL Young Guns 2 SSTMI Juniors 2.
Division 2 – Group A: MSSPs/PHP Perlis Young Lion Junior 0 MCKK 0; SM Sains Raja Tun Azlan Shah 1 KHA Kedah Juniors 3; MATRI 1 MSS Kedah 5.
Group B: MSSWPKL 2 Anderson PHA 4; MISCF-UFL 0 Anderson Thunderbolt 0.
Group C: MSNT/PHT 1 TBSS Tampin 7; Akademi Hoki Pahang 1 Malacca High School-Hercules 1.
