SSTMI AND MCKK LEAD THE CHARGE IN THRILLING MCKK RUGBY PREMIER 7S QUARTERFINALS

KUALA KANGSAR (30 Sept) – Four-time champions Sekolah Sukan Tunku Mahkota Ismail (SSTMI) showcased their prowess by advancing into the elite top eight, securing their place in the Cup quarter-finals at the MCKK Rugby Premier 7s (P7s) Championship, held on the hallowed grounds of The Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK).

Joining SSTMI at this stage of the competition are seven other teams that earned their berths through their rankings: Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tun Hussein Onn (THOR), Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Jalan Tiga (ARAS), The Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK), Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar (EC), Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan ABI (SMK ABI), Sekolah Sukan Malaysia Pahang (SSMP) and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Telok Mas (SMKTM).

In Sunday's highly anticipated Cup quarter-final clashes, top-seeded THOR will square off against SMKTM, SSMP will challenge SSTMI, ARAS will face SMK ABI, and local favourites MCKK will lock horns with EC.

SSTMI, gunning for their fifth title after previous triumphs in 2011, 2012, 2016 and 2017, dominated Group B with an unblemished record, amassing nine points despite being ranked fifth overall.

Their path to Group B supremacy included a narrow 10-7 win over 2019 champions Sekolah Menengah Sains Hulu Selangor (SEMASHUR), an emphatic 45-0 triumph over Maktab Sabah Kota Kinabalu (SCKK) and a hard-fought 19-14 win against Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan HOSBA (HOSBA).

Following a remarkable win on the opening day, HOSBA faced disappointment when they were beaten 12-7 by SEMASHUR on the second day of the 11th MCKK Premier 7s.

The hosts, MCKK, also clinched a well-deserved spot in the quarter-finals as Group C champions, with convincing victories over SMK ABI (19-12), international opponents Sekolah Menengah Agama Darunnajah (SMAD) from Jakarta, Indonesia (43-5), and Sekolah Berasrama Penuh Integrasi Kuantan (INTEK) (48-0).

ARAS led the way in Group A, sweeping aside all opponents, including Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan King George V (KGV) 36-0, Sekolah Menengah Sains Sultan Mahmud (SESMA) 38-5 and Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah (SAS) with an astonishing 68-0 win.

In Group E, SSMP won all their matches, including a 43-0 thrashing of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultan Sulaiman (ART), a 22-5 victory against Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan King Edward VII (KE VII) and a hard-fought 20-7 win over Shizuoka Seiko Academy (SSA).

2020 champions EC from Johor Bahru secured an automatic place in the quarter-finals after topping Group F, with victories over Victoria Institution (VI) 34-0, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultan Yahya Petra 1 (SSYP1) 17-5 and SMKTM 19-17.

The Cup final is scheduled to kick off at approximately 5:15pm on Sunday, alongside the Plate, Bowl and Shield competitions.

Match Day 2 results:

SEMASHUR 7 – 10 SSTMI

INTEK 30 – 7 SMAD

RMC 0 – 40 THOR

SSMP 20 – 7 SSA

VI 0 – 34 EC

KGV 19 – 0 SAS

ARAS 38 – 5 SESMA

SCKK 0 – 45 SSTMI

HOSBA 7 – 12 SEMASHUR

MCKK 43 – 5 SMAD

SMK ABI 40 – 14 INTEK

SHOAW 0 – 60 THOR

STAR 29 – 0 RMC

KE VII 7 – 12 SSA

ART 0 – 43 SSMP

SSYP1 5 – 17 EC

SMKTM 32 – 0 VI

KGV 19 – 12 SESMA

ARAS 68 – 0 SAS

SCKK 19 – 19 SEMASHUR

HOSBA 14 – 19 SSTMI

MCKK 48 – 0 INTEK

SMK ABI 41 – 0 SMAD

SHOAW 41 – 0 RMC

STAR 0 – 55 THOR

KE VII 5 – 22 SSMP

ART 5 – 17 SSA

SSYP1 19 – 7 VI

SMKTM 17 – 19 EC