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THE national seniors lost their first Test match against New Zealand 4-1 in Tauranga Sunday. The Malaysian goal was scored by Razie Rahim off a penalty corner attempt.
The national team, on a Tour of New Zealand and Australia to play 10 matches, will play the Kiwis three more times.
Shay Neil, Jacob Smith, Nick Wilson and Nick Woods scored for the Kiwis.
By Hockey NZ
The Black Sticks Men have recorded a strong 4-1 win over Malaysia in the first of four tests at Blake Park in Tauranga.
After a slow start which saw them go down 1-0, the Black Sticks powered back with four unanswered goals through Jacob Smith, Nick Wilson, Nic Woods and Shay Neal.
The spotlight was on veteran midfielder Ryan Archibald who became just the third New Zealand player ever to reach 300 caps behind Phil Burrows (343) and Dean Couzins (318).
Archibald made his debut against Malaysia in 1997, and in his 19 year career to date has represented New Zealand at three Commonwealth Games, two Olympic Games and two World Cups.
Head coach Colin Batch said the result was a pleasing start to the series.
“It’s our first game in four or five months so we started a bit slowly, but I thought we really grew throughout the game,” he said.
“We generated some good phases and counter attacks particularly in the second half and that’s pleasing to see going into game two tomorrow.”
Malaysia earned a stroke inside the first 10 minutes but goalkeeper Devon Manchester, fresh off a stint in the Hockey India League, made a great save on Razie Rahim’s attempt.
Early into the second quarter the visitors lit up the scoreboard with Rahim making amends courtesy of a penalty corner flick.
Following the goal though, the Black Sticks found their feet and took control of the game.
Jacob Smith levelled the score midway through the second quarter with a nice final touch on a ball into the circle, before Nick Wilson added to the tally just minutes later thanks to a reverse shot into the corner of the goal.
Holding a 2-1 halftime lead, the Kiwis won their first penalty corner of the game in the 39th minute and Nic Woods obliged with a scorching flick into the top of the net.
In his return to international hockey, striker Shay Neal added a fourth goal for the Black Sticks 10 minutes from fulltime after smashing home a deflection.
The Black Sticks play Malaysia again in Monday’s second test in Tauranga.
Pic: Datuk Ow Soon Kooi
THE Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) coaching committee yesterday broke new ground when they held a one-day seminar to educate Junior Hockey League (JHL) coaches.
Thirty-two JHL coaches went through a brief syllabus, conducted by MHC technical director Terry Walsh, to upgrade their knowledge, and synchronise their training methods with the national coaching style.
"We conducted a seminar for JHL coaches because these are the people who are in touch with future national players and how, and what, they teach these youth will form the basics," said coaching committee chairman Datuk Ow Soon Kooi.
Walsh upgraded their knowledge on recent rule changes, and parted with methods on how to conduct basic training.
"We started this clinic to make sure that every coach in the country follows the same syllabus so that when these 16 to 19 year-olds graduate to become national players, the national coaches will not have to start from scratch again.
"This is just a small beginning, as we intend to have another clinic during the Azlan Shah Cup (April 6-16 in Ipoh) for higher level coaches who handle the Razak Cup as well as the Malaysia Hockey League," said Soon Kooi.
A total of 35 teams, 10 in Division One and 25 in Division Two, competed in this season's JHL. Some of the coaches could not attend the clinic as they are involved with the quarter-finals stage of the TNB Cup.
Meanwhile, three Thunderbolts are almost assured of playing in the TNB Cup semi-semifinals after big wins in the first leg quarter-finals on Friday.
Sunday, only the Anderson Thunderbolts-UniKL Young Guns return leg still remains an open affair, as the first leg ended 3-2 in favour of the Ipoh school.
Anderson, the Division Two champions, will be promoted to Division One next season. More importantly, they are looking for a Thunderbolts sweep this year.
"Three Thunderbolts (SSP-MSP, SSTMI and BJSS) have almost assured themselves a spot in the semi-finals and we will be aiming to make it four tomorrow (today).
"With home ground advantage and crowd support, I believe we can beat UniKL at the Azlan Shah Stadium," said Anderson team manger Saiyuti Samat.
In the first leg, Anderson were losing 0-2, but surged ahead to draw level and then score a last second winner.
SUNDAY: TNB Cup q-finals Second Leg: Perlis Young Lions Juniors (1) v SSTMI Thunderbolts (7) (SSTMI, 5pm), Sabah Sports School (1) v SSP-MSP Thunderbolts (8) (Pitch II, 7pm), Anderson Thunderbolts (3) v UniKL Young Guns (2) (Azlan Shah, 5pm), BJSS Juniors (3) v BJSS Thunderbolts (6) (Pitch I, 7pm).
Note: Matches at National Stadium Bukit Jalil unless stated. First leg scores in parentheses.
THREE Thunderbolts virtually booked their semi-final slots in the TNB Cup when they went on a scoring spree in the first leg quarter-finals Friday.
League champions SSTMI Thunderbolts hammered Perlis Young Lions Juniors 7-1, SSP-MSP Thunderbolts whitewashed Sabah Sports School 8-1; while Bukit Jalil Sports School Thunderbolts beat BJSS Juniors 6-3.
The only quarter-finals still alive in the return leg is between Anderson Thunderbolts and UniKL Young Guns -- which ended with the Ipoh school winning 3-2.
UniKL took a 2-0 lead but Anderson, who rose from Division Two, gave a super fight to level the score and nailed a final minute penalty corner goal to keep alive a dream of seeing four Thunderbolts in the semi-finals.
However, UniKL is singing the blues as they will not be able to train at the Azlan Shah Stadium blue tournament pitch today.
UniKL have contacted Ipoh City Council, Perak HA and Malaysian Hockey Confederation officials on the matter but have hit a brick wall.
Coach I. Vickneswaran was fuming mad at the disadvantage: "How can they do this to us? It's an important return leg which Anderson will host us but we are not allowed to train at the Azlan Shah Stadium main blue pitch tomorrow (today)."
Vickneswaran said they have contacted all the relevant authorities, and are even willing to pay to train at the main pitch -- but the answer was a big NO.
"On the other hand, Anderson have been training and playing at the main stadium this whole season under the banner of Perak Malaysia Games team.
"Winning and losing is a part of the game, but let there be fairplay," said Vickneswaran.
Anderson team manager said Saiyuti Samat: "We came here (Bukit Jalil) to clain a draw or a win, as we know that we have the advantage in the return leg on Sunday at our own back-yard in front of our school fans. I believe we will be able to qualify for the semi-finals."
UniKL took the lead off Nurasyraf Rosli (17th) and Wan Haziq Hisyamuddin (26th) but Anderson equalised off Nur Syahmi Zulkifli (49th) and Azrai Aizad (52nd) before winning a final minute penalty corner and Najme Ahmad tucked the ball in for a slim lead going into the second leg.
RESULTS: TNB Cup q-finals First Leg: SSTMI Thunderbolts 7 Perlis Young Lions Juniors 1, SSP-MSP Thunderbolts 8 Sabah Sports School 1, UniKL Young Guns 2 Anderson Thunderbolts 3, BJSS Thunderbolts 6 BJSS Juniors 3.
SUNDAY: TNB Cup q-finals Second Leg: Perlis Young Lions Juniors v SSTMI Thunderbolts (SSTMI, 5pm), Sabah Sports School v SSP-MSP Thunderbolts (Pitch II, 7pm), Anderson Thunderbolts v UniKL Young Guns (Azlan Shah, 5pm), BJSS Juniors v BJSS Thunderbolts (Pitch I, 7pm).
Note: Matches at National Stadium Bukit Jalil unless stated
LEAGUE champions SSTMI Thunderbolts are expected to have a walk in the park when they play Perlis Young Lions Juniors in both the legs of the TNB Cup quarter-finals starting Friday.
The five-time consecutive double champions SSTMI have a super record to rely on, as in six years, they have only lost one match -- 2-0 to UniKL Young Guns on 21 Feb.
Perlis Young Lions, on the other end, rose from Division Two and even lost to Anderson Thunderbolts 1-0 in the lower division final.
Both the legs will be played at SSTMI's grounds, giving them an added advantage which they do not need.
The other quarter-finals also favour Division One teams, as UniKL Young Guns, BJSS Thunderbolts and SSP-MSP Thunderbolts are expected to proceed to the semi-finals
However, if Anderson Thunderbolts pull off an upset it will be a Thunderbolts semi-finals.
Perlis and UniKL are the only non-Thunderbolts in the quarter-finals: "For us, we want to go al the way to the final and the first step would be to beat Anderson. Even though they rose from Division Two, I expect it to be a tough match -- but the outcome should favour us," said UniKL coach I. Vickneswaran.
However, Anderson team manager Saiyuti Samat begs to differ, as he is looking for a clean Thunderbolts sweep this season.
"My players have progressed well this season, and we are only obne step from creating history of having all four Thunderbolts in the semi-finals.
"And I believe my players will not disappoint, as UniKL can be beaten," said Saiyuti.
For UniKL to deny this upset, they must perform well in the first leg which will be held at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil. For, return leg will be held at Anderson's den -- the Azlan Shah Stadium.
FRIDAY: TNB Cup q-finals First Leg: SSTMI Thunderbolts v Perlis Young Lions Juniors (SSTMI, 5pm), SSP-MSP Thunderbolts v Sabah Sports School (5pm, Pitch II), UniKL Young Guns v Anderson Thunderbolts (5pm, Pitch I), BJSS Thunderbolts v BJSS Juniors (7pm, Pitch II).
SUNDAY: TNB Cup q-finals Second Leg: Perlis Young Lions Juniors v SSTMI Thunderbolts (SSTMI, 5pm), Sabah Sports School v SSP-MSP Thunderbolts (Pitch II, 7pm), Anderson Thunderbolts v UniKL Young Guns (Azlan Shah, 5pm), BJSS Juniors v BJSS Thunderbolts (Pitch I, 7pm).
Note: Matches at National Stadium Bukit Jalil unless stated.
DIVISION One League champions SSTMI Thunderbolts received a bonus draw when they were paired with Division Two's Perlis Young Lions in the TNB CUP quarter-finals on March 4.
Perlis is the weakest team in the knock-out stage, and they have been paired with the strongest side in the Junior Hockye League.
Yesterday, Perlis held Sabah Sports School to a 2-2 draw in the Division Two third-fourth play-off but lost out 3-1 in the penalty shoot out.
The other q-finals will see BJSS Thunderbolts play their brothers BJSS Juniors, while Division One runners-up SSP-MSP will meet Sabah Sports School. UniKL young Guns, third in Division One, have been paired with Anderson Thunderbolts.
Yesterday, Anderson Thunderbolts beat BJSS Juniors 1-0 in the Division Two play-off final.
On paper, all four Division One teams should proceed to the semi-finals barring upsets.
UniKL Young Guns, who last lifted the TNB Cup in 2010, aim for a home run this seaon.
"Even though Anderson (Thunderbolts) are from Division Two, we will still give them the respect all the other three Thunderbolts teams deserve. Tenaga Nasional would not have picked them to be under their programme if they were not strong in basics," said UniKL Young Guns coach I. Vickneswaran.
The interesting part of the draw is that UniKL, if they advance to the semis, will avoid SSTMI and SSP-MSP as they are drawn against the winners of BJSS Thunderbolts or BJSS Juniors.
"Yes, but it is also interesting to note that we beat SSTMI and SSP-MSP in the League but were beaten by BJSS. So, there are no easy matchesmin the knock-out stages," said Vickneswaran.
RESULTS -- JHL Division Two play-off: Final -- Anderson Thunderbolts 1 BJSS Juniors 0; Third-Fourth: Sabah Sports School 2 Perlis Young Lions Juniors 2 (Sabah win shoot-out 3-1).
March 4: TNB Cup q-finals First Leg: SSTMI Thunderbolts v Perlis Young Lions Juniors (to be decided), SSP-MSP Thunderbolts v Sabah Sports School (Bukit Jalil), UniKL Young Guns v Anderson Thunderbolts (Bukit Jalil), BJSS Thunderbolts v BJSS Juniors (Bukit Jalil).
March 6: TNB Cup q-finals Second Leg: Perlis Young Lions Juniors v SSTMI Thunderbolts (to be decided), Sabah Sports School v SSP-MSP Thunderbolts (Bukit Jalil), Anderson Thunderbolts v UniKL Young Guns (Bukit Jalil), BJSS Juniors v BJSS Thunderbolts (Bukit Jalil).
