Len nets seven in rampage

02/06/2003

Ernst & Young...................11 Dolphins................1
Customs................3 Srii Aroma...................2
LEN Aiyappa was in menacing form for Ernst & Young to drown Navy Dolphins
11-1 in their Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) match at the KLHA Stadium
yesterday.
Len, who scored 28 goals last season to finish second behind S. Kuhan,
who had 29 goals, scored seven yesterday to bring his MHL tally to 10
goals after only two matches.
The Indian import looked confident enough to crack last season's tally
but he needs better understanding from his pusher S. Shanker and stopper
Englishman Daniel Thomas because both of them bungled repeatedly
yesterday.
Ernst & Young had 19 penalty corners, but could only score eight because
the stopper and pusher, between them, bungled the rest.
Navy Dolphins, who shocked Pahang Sports Council 1-0 in their opening
match, rattled Ernst & Young with a first-minute goal from Mohamed Noor
Saad, but that was the only time they had control of the ball.
Len equalised in the 16th minute and then scored six more penalty corner
goals in the 18th, 28th, 30th, 35th, 41st and 43rd minutes.
Former national skipper Mirnawan Nawawi scored two, in the 24th and 39th
minutes, and Chua Boon Huat was finally on target, in the 47th and 60th
minutes, to complete the rout.
Ernst & Young coach K. Dharmaraj said the fixtures helped them a little.
"We were lucky because we have played weaker teams first. Our next
opponents are Ipoh City Hall and they should pose no problems. But after
getting nine points, the opponents will be tougher and my players will
have to bring out their best," said Dharmaraj who utilised all his
reserves yesterday, including second choice goalkeeper Saiful Azahar.
o At the Pandamaran Stadium in Klang, Royal Malaysian Customs beat Srii
Aroma 3-2 and now have six points after two matches.
The Customs goals were scored by David Jerome (16th, 32nd) and Lam Mun
Fatt (64th) while the Srii Aroma goals were scored by S. Kathiresan (11th)
and D. Baskaran (52nd).
Fixtures - Today: Pahang Sports Council v Maybank (Kuantan Hockey
Stadium, 5.15), Sapura v Tenaga Nasional (KLHA Stadium, 6.0).
(END)