Upset the order of the day

4 May 09, Singapore: Upset was the order of the day as from the time, the start of the first game was delayed to the time the second game ended, there weren't many happy faces around during the games.

From unnecessary tampering of the rules to traffice jams in Johor Bahru to half naked Temasek men, it was not a pretty sight indeed. Nevertheless, being the masters of hockey, almost literally in this case, it must be said that fun was had in the end.

The day's first game saw Temasek take on Hockey Village People with just 7 guys and without a goalkeeper. It was going to be hard and Kanan Packrisamy's early generosity proved to be costly as his early misses came back to bite his team on their backside as they lost 3-2.

Leading 1-0 following Narendran J's commanding run into the Village People's scoring circle, Packrisamy should have sealed the first half victory when presented with in the least two clear chance. He took neither and allowed the Villagers back into the game when they equalised from a penalty corner that never was (it usually happens that way).

To their undisputed credit the Village People galvanised at the break tore the Temasek team apart in the second period. With an obvious lack of communication between the Temasek side, the Villagers rallied together under the guise of unity and took the lead following poor marking by the Temasekians. Stephen Whitton stealing, Inn Kuang's goalward shot.

Village People did not have to wait too long to double their lead when Whitton again was on the mark to blast home, taking his goals tally to 3 for the season.

Playing with one player short eventually showed it strain on the Temasek side but chrunign out the last few ounces of energy, Suren gave the Temasekian a glimmer of hope and bungled the home to make it 3-2.

But a glimmer was all it was and the final whistle went to send the Hockey Village People to second spot on 16 points.

The day's second game saw two teams who have not tasted victory pit their wits and not to menton their might. Something had to give as the game ended goalless in the firts half. Disaster struck for the Hollandse Club Oranje as 4 minutes from time, Sardol Singh turned in a Joginder Singh cross to take the Merlions very close to their first victory of the season.

The experienced stalwarts held out and condemned the Oranje to yet another defeat.

Next up: 11-May-09
Monday
8pm
Mucha Hockey v Hockey Village People (The Village derby) and at
9pm
Temasek v Hollandse Club Blue (clash of the early pace setters, Blues to play in orange)