City boys in second round but girls bow out

Defending champions Kuala Lumpur failed to advance into the second round of the girls division in the MHC-1Mas-Milo-KPM National Under-14 Hockey Tournament at the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Stadium today.

The city girls went down 1-2 against Malacca in a crucial match and finished at the bottom of the three-team Group A with one point following defeat against Perak (1-0) and drew 1-1 with Kedah,

Perak and Kedah played a scoreless draw to conclude the fixtures Perak, however, lead the table with seven points and Malacca six.

The qualifiers for the second round are Perak and Malacca (Group A); Penang and Pahang (Group B) while Johor and Singapore advanced from Group C.

The six teams have been drawn into Group X and Y for the second round. Penang, Johor and Malacca are in Group X while Pahang, Singapore and Perak in Group Y. The winner of each group after the round-robin league matches qualify for Sunday’s final while second-placed teams in each group play for the bronze medal.

Singapore team manager Nadrah Sadali, said: “After finishing fourth last year, we have set a target of advancing into the second round first and plan our strategy according to each match. Pahang and Perak are strong teams and we will have to work really hard.”

In the boys’ second round which begins tomorrow, defending champions Sabah lead the way with an unbeaten record of four wins in Group A after the preliminary round and have for company Pahang and Melaka while six-time champions Kuala Lumpur, Perak and Johor are in Group Y.

Champions in 2014, Pahang held Penang to a 2-2 draw today but Pahang team manager, Wan Mazlan Wan Isa, said: “It does not matter which group we are in as long as the players give their best in the second round.  

Kuala Lumpur could only manage a 0-0 draw against lowly Perlis in the last preliminary round match.

“We wasted far too many penalty corner opportunities,” said KL coach Mohd Madzli Ikmar. “Perlis surprised us by playing a good match. We will need to buck up our game in the second round as Johor is coming on strong and so is Perak.”

RESULTS

Boys Group A: Selangor 3 Kelantan 2; Kuala Lumpur 0 Perlis 0

Group B: Pahang 2 Penang 2; Sarawak 2 Kedah 0

Group C: Malacca 2 Negeri Sembilan 1; Singapore 0 Terengganu 4

Girls – Group A: Perak 0 Kedah 0; Malacca 2 Kuala Lumpur 1

Fixtures

THURSDAY (24 Nov) - Boys 2^nd Round Group X: Sabah v Malacca (7.15pm, KPM); 

Group Y: Kelantan v Perak (7.15pm, KLHA Stadium).

Classification matches - 7-9^th Placing: Selangor v Negeri Sembilan (4.45, KLHA Stadium)

10-12^th:: Kelantan v Terengganu 4.45pm, KPM)i

13-15^th: Perlis v Singapore (3.30pm, KLHA Stadium)

Girls 2^nd Round Group X: Penang v Johor (6.0pm, KPM)

Group Y: Pahang v Singapore (6.0pm, KLHA Stadium)

Classifications - 7-9^th: Kedah v Kelantan (7.30am, KPM); 10-12^th: Kuala Lumpur v Sarawak (7.30am, KLHA Stadium)