DOUBLE champions SSTMI Thunderbolts were saved the blushes when their skipper Aliff Syazwan delivered in their 2-0 win against Politeknik Malaysia in Division One of the Junior Hockey League Saturday.
The captain led by example to score two penalty corner goals in the fifth and 47th minutes to beat Politeknik in an otherwise close contest.
SSTMI coach Wan Roslan Rahman attributed the low scoring to a gruelling match against BJSS Thunderbolts on Friday, where they only won 6-5.
"My players looked tired after the 6-5 encounter against BJSS on Friday but luckily, our penalty corners helped us against Politeknik.
"Now, even though we have a 21 points from seven matches, our next two games against SSP-MSP (Thunderbolts) and UniKL (Young Guns) are crucial as we can only afford to drop one match to retain our League title," said Wan Roslan.
In another Division one match BJSS Thunderbolts hammered SSTMI Juniors 5-0 to keep their sights on playing in the TNB Cup quarter-finals.
The BJSS goals were scored by Arif Sabron (22nd, 62nd), Fahmi Zaharman (24th), Hafiizhuddin Zaidi (35th) and Noor Firdaus Rosdi (70th).
RESULTS -- Division One: SSTMI Juniors 0 BJSS Thunderbolt 5, Politeknik Malaysia 0 SSTMI Thunderbolts 2.
Division Two – Group A: MATRI 5 SM Sains Raja Tun Azlan Shah 1, KHA Kedah Juniors 0 MCKK 3.
Group B: Anderson Thunderbolt 2 BJSS Juniors 2, MISCF-UFL 3 MSNPK-ILHC 4.
Group C: SM Sains Johor 1 MSNT-PHT 4; SMK Dato Bentara Luar Juniors 3 Akademi Hoki Pahang 1.
SUNDAY -- Division One: SSP-MSP-Thunderbolts v SMKDBL Young Guns (Kuantan), Nur Insafi v UniKL Young Guns (Sg Petani), Politeknik v PJCC (Taman Daya, 7pm).
Division Two: Group A: MSS Kedah v Perlis Young Lions Jnrs (Pdg Serai), MCKK v Penang-USM (K. Kangsar); Group B: MISCF-UFL v STAR (KLHA), MSSWPKL v Felda Juniors (Ministry of Education), Anderson PHA v BJSS Juniors (Azlan Shah); Group C: Datuk Taha v Malacca Young Hurricanes (Seremban II), SM Sains Johor v Pahang Hockey Academy (batu Pahat), Sabah Sports School v Malacca High Hercules (Malacca).
Note: Matches start at 5pm unless stated.
DIVISION ONE
P W D L F A Pts
SSTMI TNDER' 7 7 0 0 34 9 21
UNIKL YOUNG GUNS 7 4 1 2 16 16 13
SSP-MSP-TNDER' 5 4 0 1 28 7 12
BJSS TNDER' 6 4 0 2 21 11 12
OLAK TIGERS 7 3 0 4 17 24 9
POLITEKNIK 6 2 1 3 9 10 7
SMKDBL YOUNG GUNS 7 2 1 4 13 17 7
PJCC 6 2 0 4 8 13 6
NURINSAFI 6 1 2 3 11 24 5
SSTMI JRS 7 0 1 6 6 32 1