Sapura at the top

23/06/2003

SAPURA topped the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) standings going into a
five-week break when they beat Royal Malaysian Customs 4-2 at the
Pandamaran Stadium in Klang yesterday.
At the Kuala Lumpur HA Stadium, Ernst & Young blew their chance of going
top when they played to a 1-1 draw against Bank Simpanan Nasional.
During the break, the national players in the MHL will return to
centralised training to prepare for the Champions Challenge in South
Africa from July 19-27.
When the league resumes on Aug 1, the title will likely be a toss among
four teams.
Sapura scored four early goals off Kang Keon Wook (12th), S. Kuhan
(26th, 39th) and Fakhrulrazi Ibrahim (27th).
Customs came back strongly in the second half but could only score two
goals from Ranjit Singh (57th) and Faried Abdullah (67th).
Ernst & Young found the going tough against BSN after Syed Imran Ali
scored his first penalty corner in the 35th minute.
Len Aiyappa came to their rescue with a well placed 59th minute penalty
corner to share the spoils.
"BSN packed their defence and it became increasingly difficult for us to
play because we needed a win to keep a top-three finish in sight.
"And after BSN got their goal, my men were under tremendous pressure but
still managed to equalise," said Ernst & Young coach K. Dharmaraj.
o AT the Azlan Shah Stadium, Johor Baru City Council (JBCC) made it
worth their trip when they beat Dolphins 2-0, reports R.G RAJ.
With the win JBCC, who had edged Ipoh City Council 1-0 on Friday at the
same venue, moved a few rungs up the table after occupying the bottom
place since the start of the MHL. The Dolphins are now submerged at the
bottom.
With the two teams evenly matched they ended in a scoreless deadlock at
half time. But the visitors were more fortunate in the second half with
their aggressive approach.
Their efforts were rewarded in the 45th minute when Razalee Yahaya
sounded the board off a penalty corner with goalkeeper Abdul Rahman Johari
beaten.
Spurred by the goal JBCC continue to press the Dolphin's goal area and
found the second goal also from a penalty corner through Nor Affazly
Ghafar.
Dolphins tried to make a comeback but to no avail, despite the three
penalty corners they forced during the closing stages.
Results: Ernst & Young 1 BSN 2, Customs 2 Sapura 4, Navy Dolphins 0
Johor Baru MC 2, Ipoh City Hall 3 Srii Aroma 1.
(END)