20 April 09, Singapore: It was a keenly contested opening game to the inaugural SVHA 8on8 League Masters 2009 Season. Hollandse Club Oranje (Oranje) took on Hockey Village People (HVP) a shade past 8pm. Umpired by Hans Peter Sluyser and Rod Hurst the game was more than we bargained for as the teams went at each other like rabbits on heat.
With neither of the goalkeepers budging in the first half, the teams retired to half time locked firmly at goalless. Martijn Snijder was having a blinder for the Oranje whilst Stephen Whitton came close a number of times for the home side. Paul Riddle was solid at the back for the HVP and provided many a attacks with his long passes which the Oranje struggled to deal with.
The introduction of Paul Kronenburg at half time for the Oranje made a difference as the Oranje had a player who was willing to take the opponent on and added an carefree asian flavour to the dsciplined European brand of hockey.
However it was Whitton who struck at the other end 5 minutes into the second half. It proved to be the only goal of the match. Whitton latched onto a mis-trap by Sander Scheepens of the Oranje and capitalised lethally with a stift forestick shot past a hapless Snijder in the Oranje goal.
Kronenburg came close a number of times to level the game but good goalkeeping by the HVP keeper and a fraction shy of accuracy meant HVP bag the win.
The win gave HVP 8 points and the narrow defeat did not leave the Oranje empty handed as they finished with 2 points, 1 for drawing the first half and the 1 for losing by a single goal margin.
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