SPOTLIGHT

Men’s Hockey Division 1 & 2

One team’s starting-11 has the combined age of 450 years. The other consists of players with combined age of 200 years starting a match.

At one end of the spectrum, the 50-plus-year young Farleigh Clarke continues to terrorise in the opponent’s semi-circle and the just-turned-50 Mohd Ali runs rings around any youngster who dares to challenge. Both are stars of the crack SRC Division 2 hockey team and played critical roles in keeping SRC’s unbeaten record in the League.

Both were instrumental in SRC’s recent come-from-behind win against SCC, which maintained the RECS’s top position going into the top of the table clash with Police SA on 7 September. Down 2-1 at half time, the evergreen Ali took matters into his own hands when he collected a loose ball in the SRC half, dribbled and ran 3-quarters of the pitch to unleash an unstoppable reverse stick shot into the SCC goal. Ali admitted later that he rarely does the reverse shot but this was special. Farleigh Clarke nipped the winning goal within 5 minutes of full time with a typical deflection into goal.

Not to be outdone, SRC’s Division 1 hockey team sits pretty at the top of their League, signaling the coming of-age of the SRC Youth team. Although they were the whipping boys in last year’s Division 1, this year’s side played with better composure and teamwork to upset the formbooks. Players like Mohd Jumaeen, James Yap, Mohd Ariff and Mohd Baqir are certainly knocking on the Premier League door. Nevertheless, it is the steady and mature teamwork shown by the Division 1 team that was key to the fantastic run in the League.

Both teams are looking to emulate the mighty SRC Premier League champions of 2008 and repeat the clean sweep of all League titles achieved in 2006 but certainly in contrasting styles.

So keep the weekends of 4 & 5 October free for the semifinals and 11 October for the finals. The Division 2 evergreens and Division 1 youngsters should be there too.

Results

SHF Men’s Division 1

SRC       vs            SHF Women                                         5-0

SRC       vs            Tornadoes                                            2-0

SRC       vs            Old Rafflesians Assoc.                      3-0

SRC       vs            Nanyang Technological Univ.           3-0

SRC       vs            SCC                                                       1-2

SRC       vs            Hollandse Club                                   2-2

SRC       vs            SHF Women                                         6-0

SRC       vs            Old Rafflesians Assoc.                      3-0

SRC       vs            SCC                                                       5-2

SRC       vs            Nanyang Technological Univ.           To be played

SRC       vs            Tornadoes                                            To be played

SRC       vs            Hollandse Club                                   To be played

SHF Men’s Division 2

SRC       vs            WorldIzz                                                 8-1

SRC       vs            ACS (I)                                                   7-0

SRC       vs            C&C United                                          3-0

SRC       vs            Hollandse Club                                   3-0

SRC       vs            Tornadoes                                            2-0

SRC       vs            Khalsa SA                                             6-0

SRC       vs            DMasters                                              5-1

SRC       vs            Singapore Veterans                            To be completed

SRC       vs            SCC                                                       3-2

SRC       vs            Police SA                                               To be completed

SRC       vs            Old Rafflesians Association             To be played

Lawrence Lee

Men’s Hockey Convenor