Kuala Lumpur (6 May, 2017): Kuala Lumpur Sports School (KLSS Wipers) defeated Sabah Sports School Malaysia 4-2 to book a semi-final spot in the Women’s Division of the 2017 TNB-Malaysian Junior Hockey League at the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Association Stadium in Jalan Pantai.Defending champions Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) also advanced to the semi-finals after thrashing MSN-MSSPK-SMK Gunung Rapat 3-1 while Kedah Sports Council edged PKS Uniten-KPT 1-0 when team captain Siti Natrah Abd Aziz scored from a penalty corner in the 59th minute.
The semi-finals will see MSSPP-PSHA-USM face KL Wipers and SSTMI go head to head against MSN Kedah on May 14.
WIPERS-KLSS coach Kannagi Arumugam admitted that there was very little to separate the two sides but her team were more decisive in front of goal.
“To me, it was a good game. They were as good as us out there, but my girls took their chances and made it count, that is the only difference. They are fitter than us so we needed to keep possession and we did that very well today,” said Kannagi.
KLSS Wipers, who were finalist last season, will need to walk a fine line when they meet MSSPP-PSHA-USM as several players are carrying cards and another infringement could see them miss the final should they qualify.
“We will speak to the players on what needs to be done. From there we will also have to change our structure for the next game depending on our opponent’s strengths,” added Kannagi.
In Johor, SSTMI went ahead in the first minute through a Norfatin Nabila Mohamad field goal and were 2-0 up in the 35th minute through an Ellya Amanina Ellias penalty corner.
MSN-MSSPK-SMK Gunung Rapat pulled one back a minute later to make it 2-1 when Nur Iwana Jamaluddin slotted home but Nur Syuhada Suhaimi restored SSTMI’s two goal cushion and ensured her side stayed on course for their title defence.
Results – Women’s Quarter-Finals: PKS Uniten-KPT 0 MSN Kedah 1; Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School 3 SMK Gunong Rapat 1; KL Wipers 4 Sabah Sports School Malaysia 2.
Fixtures (May 7, Sunday) – Boys Division 1: Olak-Nurinsafi v Politeknik Malaysia KPT (Pandamaran Hockey Stadium, 5pm); Anderson Thunderbolt v UniKL Young Guns (Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium, 5pm); SMKDBL Johor Juniors v SSTMI Thunderbolt (Batu Pahat, 5pm); MBPJ Tiger v BJSS Thunderbolt (MBPJ Hockey Stadium, 6pm); BJSS Juniors v AHP-MSP-Thunderbolt (Ministry of Education Turf, 5pm).
Division 2 – Final: SSTMI Juniors v SSMS Resilient (Tun Razak Stadium, 7.30pm); 3rd-4th Placing: MSNSSN Young Lion v MBMB Warriors (Tun Razak Stadium, 4pm).
