Story by Chan Hua Zheng/Red Sports. Photos by Dylan Chua/ Red Sports.

Players in action. (Photo 1 © Dylan Chua/Red Sports)

Players in action. (Photo 1 © Dylan Chua/Red Sports)

Hougang Sports Hall, Monday, March 28, 2016 — Raffles Institution (RI) edged out Northbrooks Secondary (NS) 8-6 in an intense clash in the 2nd round of the National B Division Floorball Championship.

With this loss, Northbrooks saw their hopes for a semis berth dimmed while handing Raffles their first victory in the 2nd round. Northbrooks must win their final match in the 2nd round in order to keep ther dreams for a semis appearance alive.

Muhammad Alfian B Yasin (#13) led the way for Raffles, bagging an impressive game-high 4 goals. On the other hand, Syafa’at B Jamal (#9) and Edry Suhairry B Rosman (#10) led Northbrooks with 2 goals apiece.

The opening period saw Raffles putting on a dominant defensive display that forced Northbrooks into resorting to long passes in an attempt to create scoring opprtunities. Northbrooks paid back the favour, applying intensive pressure on the Raffles offense with their staunch defense. However, Northbrooks saw themselves down 0-1 at the end of the period as Edry Suhairry B Rosman (#10) drew first blood for Raffles.

The second period saw Northbrooks catching fire on offense, where they scored two unanswered goals in a span of two minutes to grab a 2-1 lead. However, Edry Suhairry B Rosman (#10) proceeded to score two straight goals in the four-minute and 10-minute mark of the period to help Raffles regain a 3-2 lead. Tham Hao Wei (#12) added on a goal at the 12-minute mark to give Raffles a 4-2 lead heading into the final period.

Northbrooks mounted a comeback the final period, scoring another two unanswered goals to equalise the score at 4-4 within three minutes into the period and then equalising the score again at 5-5 at the eight-minute mark. However, defensive lapses saw Northbrooks conceding two unanswered goals to Raffles to trail 5-7 with four minutes left. Northbrooks tried to mount a comeback and were rewarded with a goal from Syafa’at B Jamal (#9) to cut the deficit to one.

With 2 minutes left, another costly defensive lapse by Northbrooks saw Charles Goek Cher Jun (Raffles #17) delivering the dagger which effectively ended the game. At the final whistle, Raffles came away with a hard-fought 8-6 victory.

Raffles will next play against St Gabriel’s Secondary at 3.30pm on March 30 at St Gabriel’s Secondary School, while Northbrooks will face off against Bedok South Secondary in a must-win match at 3.30pm on March 30 at Coral Secondary School.

Score by period
Northbrooks vs Raffles
1st period: 0-1
2nd period: 2-3 (2-4)
3rd period: 4-4 (6-8)

Top scorers
Raffles
Muhammad Alfian B Yasin (#13) – 4 goals

Northbrooks
Syafa’at B Jamal (#9) – 2 goals
Edry Suhairry B Rosman (#10) – 2 goals

Northbrooks Roster
Abdul Ra’uf B Hamran (#14), Alrossi Nufael B Alrayno (#29), Darryl Tan Kai Boon (#11), Edry Suhairry B Rosman (#10), Lucas Goh Yu Fun (#2), Mohammad Lutfil Hazieq B A A (#88), Mohammad Yusaini B Yusri (#42), Muhammad Abdul Raziq B Abdul A (#13), Muhammad Akid Zulfan B A (#99), Muhammad Amirul Afiq B Rajman (#17), Muhammad Shahruddin B Nizam (#26), Muhammad B Raiyan B Yahya (#5), Syafa’at B Jamal (#9)

RI Roster
Brandon Chen Guan Jie (#3), Lau Bing Yang (#5), Andre Chan Yisheng (#6), Sharman s/o Ravi Chandran (#7), Linus Ang Miao Kiat (#8), Muhammad Ashraf B Ismail (#9), Muhammad Zafranshah B Mahadhir (#10), Boh Wee Keat Jerome (#11), Tham Hao Wei (#12), Muhammad Alfian B Yasin (#13), Nigel Tan Jer Kang (#15), Damien Wan Junwei (#16), Charles Goek Cher Jun (#17), Jeren Law Zheng Feng (#18), Dylan Wong Kin Wai (#19), Jonathan Ng Junhao (#20)

More photos next page