KUALA KANGSAR (24 February 2018): Defending champions, Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) eased into the quarterfinals of the MCKK Premier 7s 2018 after ending the group stage with three wins out of three earlier today.

The second day of the 3-day tournament saw SSTMI kick things off with a 31-0 thumping over Sekolah Berasrama Penuh Intergrasi Kubang Pasu (IKUP) before following up with a 31-7 victory over MRSM Kuala Terengganu (MRSMKT).

In the final Group A match against Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Haji Othman Abdul Wahab (SHOAW), SSTMI came out strong as they went up 17-0 in the first half through tries from Muhd Aiman Basharuddin, Amirul Aidil Saleh, Syafiq Azizi Mohamed Sulaiman and a conversion by Ammar Mohammad Zamri.

As soon as the second half got underway, SSTMI’s Muhammad Danial Haziq Sazali extended the score line through a try before SHOAW’s Ahmad Lutfi Yusof reduced the deficit. Just before the match ended, Danial Haziq got on the scoresheet again after converting through a try to end the match at 29-7 and occupy top spot in Group A with 9 points.

SSTMI’s coach, Syed Shazril Syed Mahadzir, reserved praise for his boys after a brilliant and convincing performance in the group stage matches. However, he did highlight his team’s weakness in defence and stressed that they will work on this in their next match tomorrow.

“We will be wary of the threat posed by teams such as MCKK, SMK Seri Mersing, SM Sains Hulu Selangor (SEMASHUR) and Royal Military College (RMC). We will give our best performance in the knockout stage as we hope to defend the title and win it for the third consecutive year,” said Shazril when interviewed.

SSTMI will next take on Sekolah Menengah Sains Sultan Mahmud (SESMA) in the quarterfinal with the aim of safeguarding the prestigious N.J. Ryan Trophy. They will be joined by Johor’s Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Seri Mersing (SMSM), who managed a third place finish in last year’s edition. The Johor side booked their place in the quarterfinals after topping Group B with 9 points and their opponent for tomorrow will be Selangor’s Sekolah Berasrama Penuh Intergrasi Gombak (INTERGOM).

Hosts, Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK) emerged top of Group C with 43-12 and 19-0 wins over Australian International School (AIS) and Sekolah Menengah Sains Tuanku Jaafar (STJ) respectively. They have been drawn against Sekolah Menengah Sains Hulu Selangor (SEMASHUR) in the next round and will look to advance to the semifinal.

In the other quarterfinal match, Kedah’s Sekolah Menengah Sains Pokok Sena (SAINA) will take on Kuala Lumpur’s Royal Military College (RMC).

MCKK Premier 7s 2018 (Day 2)
RESULTS:

Group A: SSTMI 31-0 IKUP; SHOAW 12-7 IKUP; SSTMI 31–7 MRSMKT; IKUP 29–19 MRSMKT; SSTMI 29-7 SHOAW

Group B: SMSM 31-12 SDAR; SESMA 17–15 SDAR; SMSM 40–5 SEMSAH; SDAR 26 –7 SEMSAH; SMSM 17-5 SESMA

Group C: STJ 12 –14 AIS; MCKK 43–12 AIS; STJ 17–5 SMK ABI; AIS 5–14 SMK ABI; STJ 0–19 MCKK

Group D: SAS 5–13 INTEK; SAINA 14–5 INTEK; SAS 10–10 KE VII; INTEK 19–12 KEV II; SAS 5–22 SAINA

Group E: EC 7 – 12 INTEGOM; KGV 15–12 INTEGOM; EC 15–17 SMYP1; INTEGOM 20–7 SMYP1; EC 14–5 KGV

Group F: VI 17-12 SEMASHUR; STAR 17–21 SEMASHUR; VI 12–26 RMC; SEMASHUR 15–5 RMC; VI 14–14 STAR

Cup / Plate Quarterfinal fixtures (25 February 2018):

SSTMI vs SESMA (11.10am)
SAINA vs RMC (11.30am)
MCKK vs SEMASHUR (11.50am)
SMSM vs INTERGOM (12.10pm)

*Final match will take place at 5.15pm tomorrow.*