Nurfatin delivers blow to KL Wipers

Saturday (1 April, 2017): Defending champion Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) edged Kuala Lumpur Sports School Wipers 1-0 in the 2017 TNBMalaysian Junior Hockey League Girls Division at the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Stadium today.

It was a rematch between the two arch rivals early in the 2017 TNBMJHL season. SSTMI won the inaugural Women’s Junior Hockey League title last year following a 2-1 victory over Kuala Lumpur Wipers in the final.

Nurfatin Dizana Mohd Zaidi delivered the crushing blow to KL Wipers with a 27th minute field goal. The match was interrupted by rain just as it progressed towards the near end of the second quarter.

However, upon resumption 40 minutes later, KL Wipers could not find the equaliser with several near misses.

“It wasn’t a good start but nevertheless we have three points. The rain did not help much as it broke our momentum,” said SSTMI manager, Khairulizwan Kamdi. “There are lots of areas we need to work on especially on the fitness level of the senior players.”

“We don’t have between seven players from last year squad who have graduated from the school. It’s like going back to the base and we promoted six players who featured in the National Under-16 tournament,” said Khairulizwan.

KL Wipers manager, Hanizah Salji, says the defeat has not dampened the spirit of the players and they will certainly bounce back in the next game against MSSPP-PSHA-USM Juniors on April 8 at the same venue.

“It was our first match today and the team played well overall. We just could not find the goals and that was the difference despite making inroads into SSTMI defence,” she added. “Things will get better as we progress in the league.”

MSSPP-PSHA USM also made a winning start by defeating Za’aba Girls 6-1 with double strikes from Siti Nur Arfah Mohd Nor (3rd & 10th minutes) and Farah Hanim Ahmad Sobri (44th & 47th minutes) whilst Nursyamimi Mohd Shaffin (46th) and Nurmaizatul Hanim Syafi Shiek Fuad (48th) scored a piece. SMK Za’aba Girls replied through Irma Oktavia Irwan in the 59th minute.

However, the PKS-Uniten-KPT and Johor Juniors encounter ended in a 1-1 draw after the match was abandoned due to rain at the Ministry of Education Stadium. As per rule 16.4.2 of the tournament regulation, the result stands as no shootout is applicable.

RESULTS:
WOMEN Group A: KLSS Wipers 0 SSTMI 1
Group B: MSSPP-PSHA-USM 6 Za’aba Girls-KPHA 1; PKS-Uniten-KPT 1 Johor Juniors 1

SUNDAY (2 April, 2017):
Boys Division 1: SMK Dato Bentara Luar Johor Juniors v Olak-Nurinsafi (Batu Pahat, 5pm)
Division 2B: MISCF UFL v Terengganu Junior Team (KLHA, 8pm); MSSSWP KL v Malay College Kuala Kangsar (KPM, 8pm)
Division 2C: Malacca High School Young Hurricanes v Tunku Besar Secondary School Tampin (Bukit Serindit Hockey Stadium, 5pm); SSTMI Juniors v MBMB Warriors (SSTMI, 5pm).
Girls Division: MSSPP-PSHA-USM Juniors v Sabah Sports School Malaysia (USM, 5pm).