News

24-05 Sabah trounce Penang

2010-05-24 02:05:00

Debutants MSN Sabah emerged as champions of Division Two in the MHF-Milo-NSC Junior Hockey League after trouncing Penang Free School-USM 4-1 at the Pandamaran Hockey Stadium in Klang yesterday.

MSN Sabah and MSS Pahang were tied on 21 points but the Sabah team had a better goal difference.

Sabah opened scoring after just five minutes through Eldon Lemery before adding a second in the 25th minute through Harmesh Singh.

On the ball: MSN Sabah's goalkeeper Jayson Gosiun trying to stop a shot by Penang Free's Mohd Hafify Mohd Rodzi during their match at the Pandamaran Hockey Stadium yesterday. - M. AZHAR ARIF / The Star.

Dick Chany Waili made it 3-0 in the 50th minute before Penang managed to hit the target through Mohd Shafirul Mohd Noor eight minutes later.

Ahmad Kafeel Ahmad Rashidi put extra gloss to Sabah’s win by netting the fourth in the 67th minute.

Sabah coach Paul Raj said they had little trouble disposing of Penang and would now turn their attention to their last eight clash against defending champions Bukit Jalil Sports School tomorrow.

“Today (yesterday) was mission accomplished as we have won the title. This is a bonus for us as we did not target the title in our first year. Now that we are in the quarter-finals, we have to start focusing on it immediately,” he said.

Paul, who had handled Old La Sallians Association of Klang (Olak) and MBPJ, added that it would be easier to play BJSS as “we know their players’ capabilities”.

“Of course we will have to come up with a good strategy as they have a very experienced side,” he said.

“But our players have shown that they have what it takes to play in the Junior League and I am sure they will be in good spirit for the quarter-final clash.”

In the other quarter-final matches, newly-crowned Division One champions BPSS-Thunderbolt will play Ipoh City Council while Universiti Kuala Lumpur, the Division One runners-up, will meet MSS Pahang.

These three matches will be played tomorrow.

The fourth match involving Division One teams Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and Bandar Penawar SS Juniors will be held on Thursday as many of their players are away with the national Under-16 team in Germany.

The final will be held on Sunday.

Source The Star