KLHC bounce back to foil TNB’s plans

Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club continued their unbeaten run with a 3-1 demolition of Tenaga National Berhad in the TNBMHL 2015 Premier League match at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil today.

It was TNB who scored first through Muhammad Shahril Saabah off a penalty corner in the 25th minute but Pakistan’s Ali Shan leveled for KLHC five minutes later from a field goal and Rashid Baharom increased the lead to 2-1 with a 47th minute field goal. Muhammad Umar Bhutta scored the third for KLHC a minute later off a penalty corner.

As for TNB, their game plan once again ditched into muddy waters after suffering a crushing 5-0 defeat against THT last week despite making steady progress–winning 2-1 against Maybank and pulverising Universiti Kuala Lumpur 3-2 in the league’s second match.

In Kuala Terengganu, double champions Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) edged Sapura 1-0, thanks to a 39th minute penalty corner set piece goal from AzlanMisron.

KLHC have now stretched their lead to 10 points at the top of the six-team league followed by THT on nine points and Sapura third with seven points. The match betweenUniversiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) and Maybank which was briefly played on Thursday before rain washed it away will be decided at a later date.

“Sapura played very well. When we got the 1-0 lead we just held onto it and I must say our defenders came under tremendous pressure and did well to hold on Sapura’s challenge,” said THT coach Sarjit Singh.

“But I must say that every game from now is going to be very important. We must win three points.The score does not matter. We just have to focus on all our remaining matches and win three points.”

He added that Maybank, Sapura and KLHChave very good foreign signings this year unlike last season which makes the league far more entertaining and exciting.

“So it’s going to be a very tough league compared to last year. Even the National Juniors are playing very well and I believe as the league progresses we are going to witness exciting matches” added Sarjit.

Results - Premier Division: Terengganu Hockey Team 1 Sapura 0; KLHC 3 TNB 1.

Division 1A:BJSS 4 MSP-YP-SSP 3.

Division 1B:PKS-KPM 1 SSTMI 0; NurInsafi 2 Politeknik Malaysia 1; UITM 3 ATM Airod1.

Women’s Group A: Penang Juniors 1MSNT/PHT 1; The Cops 2 Politeknik Malaysia1; Group B: KL SUKMA 4Manjung HA 0.

Fixtures – Saturday (15 Aug) - Division 1B: UniKL Young Guns v UITM (National Hockey Stadium, 5.0pm); SSTMI v NurInsafi (Taman Daya 2, 5.0pm), Politeknik Malaysia v PKS-KPM (Taman Daya 1, 7.0pm).

Women’s Group A:Politeknik Malaysia v ATM Pernama (MBMB Ground, 5.0pm).

Sunday (16 Aug):Premier Division: THT v UNiKL (BatuBuruk Stadium, 5.0pm); Sapura v TNB (6.0pm); Maybank v KLHC (8.0pm); both matches to be played at National Hockey Stadium, Bukit Jalil.

Division 1A: MBI v MSP-YP-SSP (Azlan Shah Stadium, 5.0pm); MSNT/PHT v MASUM-USM (SMKPM Stadium, 5.0pm).

Women’s Group B:PKS-KPM (National Hockey Stadium, 5.0pm); SSTMI Thunderbolt v MSN Kedah (Taman Daya 1, 7.0pm).