Story by reader Colin Ng

National A Division Hockey SAJC vs RI

Defending champions RI (in black) defeated SAJC 6–0. (Photo by Muhd Shafeeq Shariff and received courtesy of Colin Ng)

PESEB, Monday, April 13, 2015 — Saint Andrew’s Junior College’s (SAJC) hopes of finishing in the top four were dealt a blow after they fell 0–6 to reigning champions Raffles Institution (RI) in the National A Division Hockey Championship.

Gurveer Singh of RI helped himself to a hat-trick, courtesy of two penalty corners and another from open play.

Despite the loss, SAJC teacher Benny Tan was gracious in defeat as he acknowledged their opponents’ superiority.

“Raffles were just a class above us, and this was a good lesson for our players,” Benny said.

Indeed, the Saints were subject to an onslaught of Rafflesian attacks from the get go, with RI hitting the cross bar as early as the third minute.

Nevertheless, dogged defending from the Saints saw them trailing the defending champions by just one goal at the break.

SA even ended the half on a positive note after a cross from Shannon Kumar was deflected out. That however, was not a sign of things to come as Raffles converted a penalty corner within minutes of the restart to establish a two-goal advantage.

The Saints were soon left chasing shadows as the game wore on with their more experienced counterparts launching wave after wave of attack.

SAJC were just unable to cope with their opponent’s dominance as they conceded four more goals to cap a miserable afternoon for them.

The defeat meant that their next match against Millennia Institute had now become a-winner-takes-all game. But with both teams level on three points, qualification is still in SA’s hands thanks to their superior goal difference.

A draw in fact, would be enough to send the 2010 champions back into the semi-final after a one-year absence.