Bukit Jalil Sports Schools humiliated

UNIKL Young Guns mauled Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) Juniors 11-1 in the Milo-Junior Hockey League Division One match at the KLHA Stadium yesterday.
It was a humiliating defeat for the Sports School, whose seniors were once the most feard team in the JHL, but were held to a 2-2 draw by Tunku Besar Secondary School (TBSS) of Tampin at the Ministry of Education pitch yesterday.
The win not only gave UniKL the top spot, albeit for the next 24 hours as SSTMI-Thunderbolts will play their sixth match today, but also improved their goal difference to a five-goal cushion over the defending Overall champions Thunderbolts.
However, BJSS Juniors coach S. Prakash still sees a silver lining in his young side.
"I agree that in 2007, 08 and 09 when I coached BJSS to the JHL double, the players were all below 17-years-old. But then, they were together for four years before we could make an impact.
"This current batch has only been together for one year, and lets give them more time to mature," said Prakash.
For the record, BJSS have seven League and six Overall titles under their belt in the JHL.
"I believe the five early goals rattled my side, but the good thing about this team, which is made up of 14 and 15-year-olds, is that they held on tightly in the opening 15 minutes of the second half.
"This are some of the good points which I hope to clutivate in them for the next few years.
"However, we are not a club and can't afford to pay RM1,800 per-month to our players so we keep losing the better ones to rich clubs when they turn 17. But all said and done, and I am not making excuses now, as I see promise in these players in the next few years," said Prakash.
UniKL were 5-0 up inside the first 11 minutes and by half-time they were seven-up and looking good for more after the breather.
Fahed Saifullah opened accounts in the second minute, and the rest of the goals were scored by Haniff Saidin (fifth, seventh), Hazriq Samsul (sixth, 24th), Aslam Hanafiah (11th), N. Kaatigan (27th),
BJSS Juniors pulled one back in the 51st minute when Saiful Shaari scored, but UniKL Young Guns again tran riot with goals from Asraf Bahari (54th), Syafiq Zulzairin (54th, 56th) and Hafiz Zainol (63rd).

DIVISION ONE

P W D L F A Pts
UNIKL 6 6 0 0 35 5 18
THUNDERBOLTS 5 5 0 0 31 5 15
Anderson 6 4 1 1 27 18 13
BJSS 6 3 1 2 19 16 10
USM Jnrs 5 2 1 2 13 14 7
MBPJ 6 2 0 4 16 18 6
TBSS 6 1 1 4 12 25 4
SSTMI 5 1 0 4 9 24 3
BJSS Jnrs 7 0 0 7 4 41 0

DIVISION TWO

GROUP A

P W D L F A Pts
SAPURA 6 6 0 0 37 1 18
Poli KPT 8 6 0 2 20 8 18
KHA Jnrs 6 3 2 1 9 9 11
KHA-MSNK 6 3 1 2 14 6 10
MSS Kel 6 3 0 3 11 13 9
NUR INSAFI 5 2 1 2 8 7 7
ANDSON Jnrs 6 2 0 4 13 14 6
MSSPP Jnrs 7 1 0 6 7 28 3
PHNS 6 0 0 6 1 34 0

GROUP B
P W D L F A Pts
MHS 6 5 0 1 13 7 15
OLAK PKT 6 3 1 2 11 10 10
DATUK TAHA 6 3 1 2 8 8 10
PAHANG 6 3 1 2 10 11 10
MPBP 5 3 0 2 9 7 9
KLSS 6 2 1 3 12 11 7
SMKPM 5 2 0 3 13 10 6
TUNAS PAHANG 6 0 0 6 5 17 0

RESULTS -- Division One: UniKL Young Guns 11 BJSS Juniors 1, MBI-Anderson 6 SSTMI 2, BJSS 2 TBSS 2.
DIVISION TWO, Group A: Kelantan 0 Politeknik PKT 1, Sapura x Nur Insafi x.
DIVISION TWO, Group B: Tunas Pahang 1 Malacca HS 2, Datuk Taha 1 KL Sports School 1.

TODAY: USM Juniors v MBPJ (USM, 4pm), MBI-Anderson v SSTMI Thunderbolts (Azlan Shah , 5pm), BJSS v SSTMI (Ministry of Education , 6pm).
DIVISION TWO, Group A: Kelantan v Kedah HA MSNK (Terengganu, 3.30pm), Kedah HA Juniors v Anderson Juniors (Alor Star, 4pm), Negri HA v Nur Insafi (Seremban II, 4pm).
DIVISION TWO, Group B: Yayasan Pahang v Malacca HS (Kuantan, 4pm), Batu Pahat v Datuk Taha (Malacca, 4pm), Padang Midin v KL Sports School (Terengganu, 5pm).
SUNDAY: Division One -- TBSS v SSTMI Thunderbolts (Seremban II, 4pm).
DIVISION TWO, Group A: Kedah HA MSNK v Sapura (Alor Star, 4pm),
DIVISION TWO, Group B: Batu Pahat v Tunas Pahang (Malacca, 4pm), Olak PKT v Padang Midin (Bukit Jalil, 5pm).

Nothing but gold on Canada's mind..

The Canada Men’s and Women’s National Field Hockey Teams are traveling to India today for one reason: to earn tickets to the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The International Hockey Federation Olympic Qualification Tournament begins on Saturday, February 18th. This is the final opportunity for the National Teams to earn Olympic berths.
“We can’t wait to get on the pitch in India,” says Men’s Team Captain Ken Pereira. “We are ready to go and get that spot at London 2012!”
“We are feeling strong going into this qualifier,” says Women’s Team Captain Katie Baker. “On the field, we are competitive and tough. We know what we can do as a team, and we are ready to compete together.”
Follow both teams on their road to London at www.fieldhockey.ca/Men2012OQ and www.fieldhockey.ca/Women2012OQ.

TEAM CANADA MEN: David Carter (Vancouver).. Adam Froese (Abbotsford, BC).. Jagdish Gill (Toronto).. Matthew Guest (Melbourne, Australia).. Richard Hildreth (Vancouver).. David Jameson (Vancouver).. Antoni Kindler (Vancouver).. Mark Pearson (Tsawwassen, BC).. Ken Pereira (Unionville, ON).. Scott Sandison (Mississauga, ON).. Rob Short (Tsawwassen, BC).. Gabbar Singh (Mississauga, ON).. Iain Smythe (Vancouver).. Hudson Stewart (Vancouver).. Rogier Trip (Wassenaar, Zuid-Holland).. Scott Tupper (Vancouver).. Jesse Watson (North Vancouver).. Philip Wright (Vancouver)

MEN’S STAFF TEAM: Head Coach: Robin D’Abreo (Vancouver).. Assistant Coach: Anthony Farry (Canberra, ACT, Australia).. Manager: Kinder Gill (Vancouver).. Physician: Dr. Navin Prasad (Vancouver).. Psychologist: Bruce Pinel (Victoria, BC).. Physiotherapist: Sean Campbell (North Vancouver).. Video: Giles Wheatley.. Video Tech: Minder Gill (Vancouver)

TEAM CANADA WOMEN: Abigail Raye (Kelowna, BC).. Anna Kozniuk (North Vancouver, BC).. Azelia Liu (Scarborough, ON).. Brienne Stairs (Kitchener, ON).. Danielle Hennig (Kelowna, BC).. Diana Roemer (Mill Bay, BC).. Hannah Haughn (North Vancouver).. Kate Gillis (Kingston, ON).. Kate Thompson (Vancouver).. Katie Baker (Argyle Shore, BC).. Kaitlyn Williams (White Rock, BC).. Kristine Wishart (Hamilton, ON).. Maddie Secco (Victoria, BC).. Natalie Sourisseau (Kelowna, BC).. Sara McManus (Tsawwassen, BC).. Stephanie Jameson (Vancouver).. Thea Culley (Rossland, BC).. Tyla Flexman (Vancouver)

WOMEN’S STAFF TEAM: Head Coach: Louis Mendonca (Thornhill, ON).. Assistant Coach: Paul Bundy (Vancouver).. Manager: Stefanie Sloboda (Winnipeg, MB).. Video Analyst: John DeSouza (Toronto).. Athletic Therapist: Noreen Ortilla (Georgetown, ON).. Physician: Dr. Navin Prasad (Vancouver).. Video Tech: Minder Gill (Vancouver)

Source: Field Hockey Canada Media Release

Ireland 5 Belgium 4

Ireland won their opening encounter against Belgium in a thrilling 5-4 game earlier today in Valencia.
Ireland got off to a great start in the first minute when Ian Sloan scored from open play. Belgium equalised in the 19th minute when they pounced on a rebound from David Harte's pads to make it 1-1.
Ireland took a 2-1 lead in the 24th minute when Michael Watt enjoyed a similar goal to the Belgian's capitalising on a rebound from the keeper's pads. Just 3minutes later Belgium equalised off a scrambled attack scoring at close range. Ireland had an opportunity to take the lead before the break when they secured a penalty corner on the final hooter but the Belgians kept calm and cleared the shot well.
Half Time Score: Ireland 2-2 Belgium
The Belgians took the lead for the first time in the 38th minute when Reckinger scored a penalty corner drag flick. But it was an on form Ian Sloan who scored once again for Ireland to make it 3-3. Ireland took the lead once again when Chris Cargo made it 4-3 in the 51st minute when he followed up on a reverse stick shot to tap in at the back post. Belgium were unlucky not to equalise in the 54th minute when their penalty corner attempt was denied by the woodwork and despite further Belgian opportunities on the penalty corner front it was Timmy Cockram who gave Ireland a 5-3 lead in the 65th minute with his trademark dragflick.
Belgium got one back in the 69th minute but Ireland ran down the clock to ensure the win.
Ireland 5 (2) Ian Sloan x 2; Michael Watt; Timmy Cockram; Chris Cargo
Belgium 4 (2)
Starting XI: David Harte; John Jackson; Paul Gleghorne; Conor Harte; Stuart Loughrey; Eugene Magee; Ian Sloan; David Ames; Michael Watt; Timmy Cockram; Mitch Darling

Reserves: Chris Cargo; Bruce McCandless; Phelie Maguire; Gareth Watkins; Shane O'Donoghue (all used)

Irish Hockey Association media release

Korea keep Kiwis Test alive

SOUTH Korea have kept the five Test series against the Black Sticks Men alive with a 4-2 victory tonight at Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium in Pakuranga, Auckland.
After two Kiwi victories last weekend, the visitors came from two goals down tonight to collect the win and keep the series alive going into the final matches on Saturday and Sunday.
Black Sticks Men’s coach Shane McLeod said he was bitterly disappointed with the result and felt the team was complacent after going two goals up.
“I thought the error rate in defence was far too high. The Koreans set a game plan to counter attack and we played into their hands. Korea are a good side and they will punish you.”
McLeod said the loss would certainly focus the team for the final two matches in the series.
New Zealand came out firing and within three minutes were 1-0 up after Hugo Inglis finished off a strong attacking move from Ryan Archibald and Simon Child.
Inglis added a second 10 minutes later after a goalmouth scramble.
Korea were awarded a penalty corner after 22 minutes and Nam Yong Lee converted the opportunity to take the score to 2-1. Some strong goalkeeping from Stephen Graham denied the Koreans adding to that score in the first spell.
Three second half goals to Korea, including two penalty corner goals, sealed the victory. Lee lead the charge with a hat trick of goals.
Nick Wilson, in his 100th test for the Black Sticks, missed the opportunity to claw one back with just over five minutes to go with his shot going high over the net.
The two sides will meet again on Saturday and Sunday at 3pm at Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium. Tickets are $5 for children and $10 for adults - gate sales only, Eftpos is available.
Hawke’s Bay is the Principal Partner of the Black Sticks Men and Women.

Hockey New Zealand Media release