Sunday, March 8, 2015

PJCC struggle, others cruise into semis

AS EXPECTED, all four Division One teams advanced into the semi-finals of the MHC-Milo-NSC Junior Hockey League, with league champions SSTMI Thunderbolts the clear favourites to march into the final as well.
  SSTMI Thunderbolts will face their counterparts SSP-MSP Thunderbolts in the last-four, and the final ticket is as good as theirs.
  SSTMI Thunderbolts advanced on a 16-1 aggregate when they whipped 1Mas Perlis in the return leg yesterday.
  In the other quarters, UniKL beat Nur Insafi-Penang HA 5-1 for 8-1 aggregate; SSP-MSP Thunderbolts were held 2-2 by Bukit Jalil SS Juniors but advanced 8-3 on aggregate while Petaling Jaya City Council were held to a 1-1 draw by SMKDBL PHJ, but PJCC advanced on a 4-2 aggregate.
  The only Division One side that had to endure some nervy moments were PJCC , and now they have to prove their worth when they play UniKL Young Guns in the semis on March 11.
  "We faced some difficult moments as it rained and our opponents had the backing of the crowd at their own turf (Batu Pahat). They had nothing to lose so they kept pushing forward and were good in defense as well," said PJCC team manager Zainal Abidin Ismail.
   PJCC took the lead after 25 minutes when Fahrul Razi converted a penalty corner, but Khairul Jainal equalised from open play in the 54th minute and the score stood till the end.
   RESULTS: Quarterfinals second leg-- 1Mas Perlis 1 SSTMI Thunderbolts 6 (Thunderbolts win 16-1 on aggregate).
 BJSS Juniors 2 SSP-MSP Thunderbolts 2 (Thunderbolts win 8-3 on aggregate).
 SMKDBL PHJ 1 Petaling Jaya City Council 1 (PJCC win 4-2 on aggregate).
 Nur Insafi-Penang HA 1 UniKL Young Guns 5 (UniKL win 8-1 on aggregate).
  March 11: Semi-finals first leg: SSTMI Thunderbolts v SSP-MSP Thunderbolts; Petaling Jaya City Council v UniKL Young Guns.