23 Aug Politeknik flex muscles but SSTMI and TNB in joint-lead

Politeknik Malaysia returned to winnings ways this week with back-to-back victories in the TNB-Malaysian Hockey League 2016 Division One matches.

After an opening season 1-1 draw with Bukit Jalil Sports School on August 5 followed by a 1-5 drubbing from TNB Thunderbolt, Politeknik Malaysia looked fully recharged en route to a 4-0 victory over Penang-based NurInsafi 4-0 on Saturday at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Baru.

And Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh (MBI) became Politeknik’s latest victim on Sunday, going down 1-2 at the same venue. Muhammad Ikmal Hafiz opened accounts for Politeknik Malaysia in the 45th minute but Sabri Mohamed drew level with a penalty corner conversion four minutes later before Mohamed Zaki Ismail nailed the winner for Politeknik35 seconds before the hooter.

Elsewhere, ATM Airod came back from a 1-6 clawing in the hands of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) on Saturday to defeat BJSS 4-2 and TNB Thunderbolt downed UiTM 2-1 at the Tun Razak Stadium while Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) were held to a 2-2 draw by NurInsafi in Johor Baru.

The Johor-based SSTMI and Thunderbolts share eight-equal points at the top -one clear of UiTM and Politeknik Malaysia (6 points) followed by NurInsafi (4), ATM Airod (3) and BJSS (2). The Air Forces outfit went 2-0 ahead in the first quarter with goals from Said Abdul Rashid (7th) and Szuhairi Kamal (14th) but BJSS equalized within a space of eight minutes through Adam Daniel Ferozs (26th) and Kamerol Harith Daniel (34th) minutes.

ATM, however, sealed the victory with brace from Mohd Hafizi Ramli in the 39th and 59th minutes from penalty corners. In women’s league, Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) went unbeaten in three matches following a 3-1 win over ATM Pernama on home turf in Johor Baru.

With this win, SSTMI share nine-equal points with Royal Malaysian Police Warriors at the top of the standings. Fatin Naimah Zaki (2nd), Fatin Syafiqah (18th) and Surizan Awang Noh (38th) scored for SSTMI while Nur Adriana Mohd Nawawi replied for ATM.

Results – Sunday (21 August 2016): Men’s Division 1 – ATM Airod4 Bukit Jalil Sports School 2; Politeknik Malaysia 2 MajlisBandaraya Ipoh 1; SSTMI 2NurInsafi2; UiTM-KPT 1 Thunderbolt2. Women’s League – SSTMI 3 ATM Pernama1.