MBPJ Tigers hold back Young Guns late charge

Kuala Lumpur (7 April, 2017): Universiti Kuala Lumpur Young Guns failed to convert two late penalty corner chances and a share of the points in their TNB-Malaysian Junior Hockey League Division One match against Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya Tigers today.

MBPJ Tigers, the 2006 overall champions, won 2-1 in their first match of the National Junior League 2017 season at the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Stadium.

“We were poor in attack and no excuses for the defeat as we did not play up to the mark,” UniKL coach A. Arul Selvaraj, conceded. “We created enough chances but did not convert them and this is one area that I was concerned about. We are working on our penalty corners and it’s a matter of time the players get their act going.”

“As I said before MBPJ have experienced players, and that was the difference between the two teams in today’s match.”

It was a lacklustre performance from the UniKL Young Guns who hardly launched a decent attack in the first quarter.

And they paid the price as MBPJ capitalised to take the lead in the 17th minute through Mahathir Rathuwan who deflected in a cross from the left. Mohd Nur Asyraf Ishak doubled the advantage for MBPJ Tigers side by converting a penalty corner in the 33rd minute.

UniKL pulled a goal back through Izwan Ariff in the 45th minute. Despite being awarded two penalty corners in the closing minutes, UniKL failed to find the equaliser.

Arul’s boys return to the KLHA Stadium on Sunday for their third League fixture against Johor Juniors, represented by SMK Dato Bentara Luar, in the only Division One match of the day.

The action tomorrow involves Women’s League Group A matches between MSN Kedah and Convent Bukit Nanas whilst Kuala Sports School Wipers Wipers take on USM Juniors.

In Group B, SMK Gunong Rapat plays SMK Za’aba Girls on home turf and PSHA USM entertains PKS Uniten-KPT at the USM Hockey Stadium.

Sabah Sports School Malaysia lead the Group A standings with six points from two wins and a loss whilst MSSN Kedah, Tunku Mahkota Ismail Spots School (SSTMI) and Convent Bukit Nanas Hockey Club share three-equal points.

RESULTS:
Boys Division 1: UniKL Young Guns 1 MBPJ Tigers 2
Division 2A: Perlis Young Lions 1 MSSP-PHA-USM 0; USM Juniors 4 MSSM Kedah 2; Stingers 6 MISC UFL Penang 0
Division 2B: MCKK 2 SSMS Resilient 11; Felda Juniors 5 MISC UFL 1; Anderson PHA 4 MSSPWKL 1
Division 2C: SMK Dato Bentara Luar Johor Juniors 1 TBSS Tampin 2; SMK Dato Mohd Taha 1 SSTMI Juniors 2; MBMB Warriors 9 Young Hurricane Malacca High School 1

Fixtures:
Saturday (8 April, 2017): Women League:
Group A: MSN Kedah v Convent Bukit Nanas (SMK Lela Pahlawan, Kedah, 5pm); KLSS Wipers v USM Juniors (KLHA, 5pm).
Group B: SMK Gunong Rapat v SMK Zaaba Girls (SMK Gunong Rapat, 5pm); PSHA USM v PKS Uniten-KPT (USM, 5pm).

Sunday (9 April): Boys Division 1: UniKL Young Guns v SMK Dato Bentara Luar Johor Juniors (KLHA, 5pm)
Division 2B: MSSWPKL v MISC UFL (KPM, 5pm); Terengganu Junior Team v MCKK (Stadium Hoki Batu Buruk, 5pm); Felda Juniors v SSMS Resilient (UPSI, 5pm).
Division 2C: TBSS Tampin v Johor Bahru DHA (Seremban 2, 5pm); Young Hurricanes (Malacca High School) v SMK Dato Mohd Taha (Bukit Serendit Hockey Stadium, 4pm); MBMB Warriors v SMK Dato Bentara Luar (Bukit Serendit Hockey Stadium, 6pm).