By reader Gan Guo Wei

RP Multi-Purpose Hall, Tuesday, April 26, 2011 — Raffles Institution opened their campaign in the National A Division Boys’ Floorball Championship with a 2-1 win over Anglo-Chinese Junior College.

The game started at a frenetic pace, with ACJC winning the first face-off and obtaining an early free hit. However, nothing came of it. Soon after, an ACJC forward attempted a turn drag from range, but RI’s Benjamin Chin (#13) blocked it with ease. It was a strong start by ACJC, as they poured forward in droves and tried to break through a stout RI defence. However, RI stood firm and resilient and their goalkeeper Nasriman was tested by a fierce shot at 02:10, which he managed to bat away.

RI then began to stamp their authority on the game, and on a sudden counter-attack, Hamzah (#11) hit a backhand shot towards goal at the 02:49 mark. It seemed to be covered by the ACJC goalkeeper but he could only watch in horror as the ball squeezed through his legs and into the back of the net for a 1-0 Raffles lead.

Goutham Kumar (ACJC #11) seemed to be having a good game, taking down aerial balls and weaving his way through opponents with immaculate control. Thyagesh (RI #93) then put his body on the line to block another ACJC free-hit attempt on goal.

Shee Zi Heng (RI #3) was also having a good game, showing a full range of incisive passing from the back and coping admirably with pressure. He was growing into the game as a creative force from the back, as RI began to dominate proceedings.

The partnership of captain Too Tat Hsiang (#7) and Hamzah (#11) up front for Raffles was reaping dividends as they tormented the ACJC defence with their clever and quick play. At the 06:21 mark, from the right flank, Too Tat Hsiang (#7) swiveled to lash a quick drag shot onto the crossbar.

As ACJC were still breathing a collective sigh of relief, Hamzah (#11) mirrored the feat from the opposite flank, with better results. He turned to drag the ball into the corner of the net, with the keeper hopelessly beaten for the second time in the day by the same player. 2-0 to Raffles. It was proving to be a barnstorming start to the game by Raffles Institution, the champions in 2008.

ACJC tried to hit back immediately, with their #23 and Goutham Kumar (#11) applying heavy pressure to the RI backline. However, the competent defensive duo of Shee Zi Heng (#3) and Benjamin Chin (#13) dealt with it with minimal fuss.

Royston Chua (RI #21) was penalized for a jumping, which was a controversial call, however the ensuing shot from ACJC’s Brandon Tan (#8) flew wide. RI’s Benjamin Chin (#13) was called into action to block yet another shot, before the RI goalkeeper Nasriman showed superb control when he plucked a long shot from AC’s Brandon Tan (#8) out of the air with consummate ease.

Too Tat Hsiang (RI #7) then conjured up another sublime drag shot from the right flank in response, however, it only managed to shave the post with the goalkeeper rooted in surprise again. It was a fortunate escape for ACJC, as that surely would have been a heavy lead to claw back from.

The last action of the period was RI’s keeper being called into action yet again, as he performed a flying stop to deny #23 of ACJC. The first period ended 2-0 in favour of RI.

The 2nd period began in a similar fashion as the 1st, with ACJC applying full court pressing. Both teams sent shots wide and over from both of their #15s as they sought for a further foothold on the match. Things then swung in favour of ACJC when the RI #6 was given a 2-minute penalty as a result of insistent pushing on an ACJC player at the 18:14 mark.

ACJC used the powerplay brilliantly, stretching the RI players with swift and accurate passing. After some telling interplay, ACJC’s Saw Yu De (#7) powered a wrist shot into the goal at the 19:02 mark, beating a perplexed RI keeper Nasriman from a tight angle. It was a demoralizing sucker punch for Raffles, and a moment for ACJC to rally their troops as they now only trailed 1-2.

Indeed, it seemed to provide impetus for ACJC to continue their attacks, as the Raffles goalkeeper Nasriman was called into action twice in quick succession to deal with another wrist shot from Saw Yu De (ACJC #7) and the ACJC #27. ACJC obtained another free hit in a promising position, however, Ryan de Cotta (#17) shot well wide of the target.

ACJC were keen to make their dominance tell, as they began peppering more shots on the RI goal. The referees gave a string of calls in ACJC’s favour and there was frustration etched on the faces of the Raffles players.

A rare foray forward by the RI captain Too Tat Hsiang (#7) ended in him forcing a fine save from the AC goalkeeper. Hamzah (RI #11) then almost obtained his hattrick, but the goalkeeper put a stop to it again. Shee Zi Heng (RI #3) attempted to follow up the rebound, but only succeeded in blazing it over.

The #15 of RI shot wide soon after, as Raffles tried to strike back quickly to quell the ACJC resurgence. But, ACJC were not willing to go down without a fight, as they continued their assault on the Raffles goal. Nasriman pulled off a fingertip save to deny ACJC yet again.

Nerves seemed to creeping into the game, as more and more unforced errors were occurring. There was another heart stopping moment for RI as the ball rebounded off the goalie Nasriman’s hand and looped precariously over his goal. The RI #1 then saved from the ACJC #15 to mark the end of the 2nd period which had been clearly dominated by ACJC with the score still 2-1 in favour of RI.

RI were definitely first out of the blocks for the third period, with Benjamin Chin (#13) featuring prominently in the opening minutes. He made one superb burst forward before rifling a shot towards goal, which was saved by the AC goalkeeper. This mirrored the performance of the RI team, as they seemed a lot more settled and composed as composed to the previous half.

RI were mildly troubled by an ACJC free-hit, which the wall coped with, before their captain missed two shots from a similar position with the ACJC goalkeeper sprawled on the floor. Would they rue those misses eventually? This question must have been on the forefront of everyone’s mind as RJ’s goalscorer Hamzah (#11) was sent off for 2 minutes for pushing at the 34:45 mark.

ACJC attempted to utilize their powerplay to their advantage, yet again, but kudos to RI for standing resolutely in their way. The ACJC #9 shot over in one of the rare opportunities created, before the 2 minute penalty expired without any harm done to RI.

Soon after though, the ACJC captain and #13 Muhammad Sufi tried to hit a cunning reverse shot through his legs towards the RI goal, but unfortunately for him, it flashed past the post. RI’s captain then tried to respond quickly with another of his trademark turn drags, from a free-hit. However, it was just not his day as his brilliant attempt came back off the base of the post and ACJC escaped unscathed.

RI won a rare free-hit in the slot area, but nothing came of it as their #8 attempted an intelligent lobbed effort towards goal. ACJC then had another free hit with about 4 minutes remaining, but RI defenders came together as one to deny the effort, after which ACJC’s #8 shot wide of the goal.

With only 1:56 minutes remaining on the clock, RI suffered a blow when their captain was penalized for slashing and sent off for 2 minutes. This meant Raffles would have to see out the game for the remaining 2 minutes with only 3 players. Would this numerical advantage prove significant? As it turned out, the answer was no as Raffles rallied amazingly, with Hamzah (#11) proving to be a thorn in ACJC’s side as he prodded the ball away to safety on several occasions.

The powerplay culminated in an ACJC shot which deflected off an ACJC player and out of the court. This also signaled the end of a thrilling game, in which Raffles showed their superiority over ACJC in a 2-1 victory.

National A Division Floorball Championship — full fixtures and results