BSN win but it was not so jolly

07/04/2002

BANK Simpanan Nasional (BSN) had to bring out their best to beat a
stubborn Jolly Lads Sports Club in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) at the
Tun Razak Stadium last night.
Although BSN collected three points from the match and are sitting
pretty at the top of the standings without conceding a single goal after
three matches, their true test will be today against Andersen Sports Club
at the KL Hockey Stadium.
Yesterday, BSN coach C. Paramalingam was more than happy that his team
was off form a day before the big clash with Andersen.
"It was our off day today, the forwards failed to click and they missed
too many sitters in the semicircle. But still, it is better that they are
off form today (yesterday) than tomorrow (today) when we meet Andersen,"
said Paramalingam.
BSN are likely to suffer today as they still do not have the services of
their Pakistan imports Sohail Abbas and Kashif Jawad, who are likely to
arrive on April 10, while Andersen have Indian stars Dhanraj Pillay and
Len Ayappa.
Jolly Lads, with the return of Kerpal Singh, Aphtar Singh and goalkeeper
Jaspal Singh to the fold after being absent in the first two matches,
looked like they were good for an upset in the first 10 minutes of the
match but in the 15th minute, they cracked under pressure.
Mohamed Amin scored a penalty corner goal and after that it looked like
Jolly Lads were in for a jolly good beating when a minute later, Muazam
Mahmud scored a stunning field goal.
But Kerpal Singh and goalkeeper Jaspal, who returned after playing in
the Sikh Games in Australia, kept the BSN strikers at bay with stunning
saves.
Kerpal stopped two sure goals by making on-the-line clearence and in the
end, Jolly Lads had reason to keep their head high even in defeat.
Jolly Lads coach Phapinder Singh was happy with the way his team played
yesterday.
"The return of Kerpal, Aphtar and goalkeeper Jaspal made the difference
today (yesterday) and I dare say that BSN were let off the hook only
becase my strikers missed a handful of sitters," said Phapinder.
In the other match of the day, Royal Malay Regiment (RMR) came back from
two goals down to hold Bumiputra-Commerce Bank (BCB) at the National
Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
BCB scored in the 10th minute off a Akhiar Ismail field goal and then in
the 38th minute, increased the lead off another field goal. This time it
was Mohamed Fharied who sounded the board.
RMR fought tooth-and-nail and in the 51st minute they were rewarded when
Supri Junoh scored off a penalty corner.
And in the 63rd minute, forces found the equaliser when Zulmadi Ariffin
scored a penalty corner goal.
Today: Sapura v Bumiputra-Commerce Bank (5.30pm, National Hockey
Stadium, Bukit Jalil); Jolly Lads SC v Tenaga Nasional (5.30pm, Tun Razak
Stadium); Maybank v Navy (6pm, KL Hockey Stadium); Andersen v BSN (8pm, KL
Hockey Stadium).
MHL RESULTS
BSN 2 JOLLY LADS SC 0
BCB 2 RMR 2
jugjet@nstp.com.my
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