Monday, February 9, 2015

Friday the 13 JHL title decider...

DOUBLE champions Thunderbolts will be on a do-or-die mission when they face UniKL Young Guns in what could turn out to be a title deciding weekend of the MHC-MILO-NSC Junior Hockey League.
   There was no thunder in the champions when they beat Bukit Jalil Sports School (4-1) and OLAK PKT Tigers (4-1), and this has got coach Wan Roslan Wan Rahman worried.
  On the other hand, Young Guns hammered Olak 9-0 and whipped BJSS 6-1 to warm-up for a Friday the 13th clash at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru with Thunderbolts.
   “Yes, we knew that we had UniKL on our radar next week and that could be the deciding match for the title, but still, I told my players to go out there and give it their all and I have to admit they were really below par in both the matches.
  “Now I have to ensure that the boys wake up from a poor weekend and be ready to face our title challengers."
  UniKL are second in Division One, one point behind Thunderbolts, but they have a game in hand going into the weekend.
   UniKL chief coach I. Vickneswaran said: “I think both teams have enough firepower to do the damage when in the semi-circle. My players were really sharp against OLAK, but to carry that form into next week would not be easy, but I believe the boys will give their best again."
   The playoffs will see six teams from Division Two – two teams each from Group A, B and C - being split into two groups of three teams, where the top two from each group will then join the top four from Division One to battle it out for the Milo Cup.
   Thunderbolts, UniKL and Petaling Jaya City Council are almost assured of a spot in the knock-out while the fourth and final spot for qualification is still an open battle between KLHC, Politeknik Malaysia, BJSS, SSP/MSP/Thunderbolt and OLAK.