KUALA LUMPUR: After almost two months of competition, the Division One of the Selangor Hockey League will see a race down to the wire when it concludes this weekend. All the top three teams - JLJ, RAMD, UiTM - have an equal chance of landing the title.
\But the favourites at the moment are UiTM, who are in buoyant mood after puttting themselves in the driver's seat with a clinical 5-2 win over OLAK last week. The Technical Committee cleared OLAK player Nur Hrsikesa Murni to return to face UiTm but it was not enough to help the former champions keep up with the fiery title challengers.
With their latest loss, OLAK are out of the contention. UiTM can clinch the title if they do not drop points in the final two matches against Selangor Sikh & Selangor Polis. Should UiTM falter, then RAMD will need only a win against OLAK on Thursday night to steal the title away.
The quarterfinals will be played on Dec 8 & 9 and the semifinals on Dec 15 & 16, while the final is slated for Dec 20. Meanwhile, in the Division Two RAMD Juniors were crowned champions last weekend without even having to break a drop of sweat.
Their nearest nemesis, SIA, faltered as they fell to an unexpected defeat to Synergy to see their titles hopes go up in smoke and disappear right before their eyes.
SIA needed a win to keep up pressure on table toppers RAMD Juniors but they fell behind as early as the third minute as Synergy’s S. Kumaresan finished off a scintillating move to give Synergy the lead. SIA fought back but Synergy goalkeeper Muhammad Fareez Farid was in top form as he foiled every shot that looked a sure goal.
To rub salt to the wound, Synergy increased their lead in the 17th minute via a penalty corner converted by Ashvinderjeet Singh. SIA gave themselves some hope of salvaging something when they pulled one back through Abdul Rasyid Ridzwan ten minutes before half-time.
But instead, Synergy went into the interval 3-1 up with a penalty corner conversion by Manpreet Singh in the 33rd minute. Ironically, it was the birthday boy Kumaresan who killed off the game when he grabbed his brace by hammering the fourth goal in the dying minutes to put the result beyond doubt.
Last Week's Results
SIA 4Projek 11 - B 3
Projek 11-B 2 PSKPP 2
Projek 11-B 3 Selangor Polis Veteran 0
OLAK 2 UiTM 5
Synergy HC 4 SIA 1
RAMD Juniors 3 Polyteknik S.Alam 0
Today
8.00pm IIUM Mustang vs SMKDJ
6.00pm SMKPP vs RAMD Juniors
Tomorrow
7.30pm SMKDJ vs Selangor Polis Veteran
9.00pm Selangor Polis vs MBPJ
Thursday
26 3-Dec 8.00pm SHP 1 OLAK vs RAMD
Friday
24 4-Dec 8.00pm SHP 1 Selangor Sikh vs UiTM
Saturday
4.00pm IIUM Staff vs Synergy HC
5.30pm Polyteknik S.Alam vs SMKDJ
7.00pm Selangor Sikh vs Selangor Polis
8.30pm Selangor Polis Veteran vs SMKPP
Sunday
8.00am SMKDJ vs IIUM Staff
4.00pm RAMD Juniors vs Selangor Polis Veteran
5.30pm UiTM vs Selangor Polis
7.00pm JUPEM vs PSKPP
(All matches at Pandamaran Stadium, Klang)