Paku edge Penrissen for U16 boys hockey title
KUCHING: SMK Paku beat SMK Penrissen by a solitary goal to take the SMK Penrissen Invitational 9-a-side Boys U16 title at the Sarawak Hockey Stadium on Sunday.
Nine teams competed in a two group format.
Penrissen found itself in Group A which also featured SMK Lake, SMK Taee and SMK Bako.
Group B had Paku, SMK Sri Matang, SMK Green Road, SMK ST. Columba and SMK Tebakang.
In the first round on Saturday, Penrissen showed their class when they finished with three clean sheets to advance.
Group A’s other qualifier was SMK Lake with one win, one loss and a draw for four points.
Paku swept into the semis with 10 points from three wins and a surprising draw to Miri’s St. Columba.
Sri Matang was the other qualifier with two wins, one draw and one loss for seven points.
It was in the semis that Paku and Penrissen showed they were in a class of their own.
Paku thumped Lake 4- 0 while Penrissen overcame Sri Matang with a 3- 0 whitewash.
The final was a scintillating affair with both sides going on the attack from the opening horn.
Paku’s scored the only goal when they broke down the right flank and passed off to Calix Carson Hee.
The forward made no mistake to give Paku the lead which they hung on for the title.
Despite losing, Penrissen coach Norden Tikot was upbeat about his team’s performance.
“We ac tua l ly u s e d thi s tournament to try out players to see which position they are best suited for,” he said.
“Now we know who can be defenders and which ones can play dual roles.”
He mainly fielded a 15-years- old roster with an eye to the future.
“Overall, I can say we take a lot of positives from this competition,” said Norden.
He can also take solace in his forward Ralph Davis Tomi taking home the Best Player Award.
Paku’s Jeremy Jeff was pleased with how his boys played, despite getting a full team practice session once only.
Miri’s St. Columba finished their Kuching tourney and Astroturf debut with one win, two draws and one loss.
Tournament director and Penrissen alumni Kangot Awan was pleased to do his part for hockey development.
“It was important the juniors get this chance to compete and there were only bruises to speak off,” he said.
Penrissen coach Celestine Michael is hopeful that there will be future editions of the tournament.
“We are really grateful for the support of our colleagues, especially our principal Lanyun Lupak, which helped to make this tournament a reality,” he said.