Wednesday, January 27, 2010 – Coming out of a loss against Taipei last night, led by Ong Shi Ya Grace, the Singapore girls looked hungry for their first win in the Singapore Youth Handball Tournament against the Hong Kong girls team.
The Hong Kong girls started the period aggressively. They tested the defence of the Singapore team, made frequent penetrations and challenged the Singapore goalkeeper on 5 consecutive attempts. However, the shot attempts proved to be futile as the Singapore goalkeeper managed to stop the ball in its track each time. In the 2nd minute, following a successfully executed wave attack, the Hong Kong team was the first to light up the scoreboard, with Wong Wing Tung putting the ball in between the legs of the Singapore goalkeeper with deadly accuracy. the Singapore team focused their attacks on the right but were caught by Hong Kong’s stifling defence. Finally, a steal led to a fast break by Tan Bee Leng, but she failed to convert it for Team Singapore.
The Hong Kong team kept the pressure on with tough defence, forcing turnovers and bad passes. They then went on a 5-0 run led by Wong Wing Tung and Leung Sin Ying.
In the 7th minute, Yap Mei Xing hurled a thunderous shot at the goal which rebounded off the Hong Kong’s keeper. Grace Ong swiftly chased down the loose ball and the Singapore captain subsequently slammed a goal effortlessly past the scrambling Hong Kong goalkeeper. Singapore then looked to start their counter attack on the Hong Kong team. They had several fast break opportunities but their transition attacks were often marred with misplaced passes.
Not long after, Hong Kong’s commanding centre back, Mak Wing Tung, got injured in a defensive effort to stop Singapore’s offense. Hong Kong then took on a more aggressive approach, resulting in shot that landed in the deep corners. Nearing the 18th minute, Team Singapore’s Teo Yan Ling responded with a ferocious shot down the middle stretch. Riding on renewed confidence, they began a series of vigourous attacks. Tan Bee Leng’s started this run with a 9m attempt that went just wide of the goal. Moments later, off a superb pass from Teo Yan Ling, Chung Kayan broke free of the defence, and while she failed to score, Tan Bee Leng was there for the rebound and finished the swift move. Minutes later, Yee Chern Hwee threaded a flawless pass to Teo Yan Ling for the fastbreak score as the crowd in the stadium erupted.
Hong Kong reacted and appeared to have a change in tactics. Their well-coordinated wave attacks managed to expose several gaps in the flanks, which proved too much for Team Singapore as they went into the break 4-15.
Upon its return, Team Singapore appeared more composed and led a more organised and well balanced offence. Their change in tactics clearly exploited the loopholes in the flanks as they quickly scored from the deep corner. With this, Team Singapore managed to stay in the game behind their opponents. The substitution of Teo Wee Shiuan into the game proved to be an invaluable decision as she handed an assist to Sng Xin Hui shortly after.
However, the return of centre Mak Wing Tung in the 2nd period boosted the Hong Kong team’s morale, and personally made various contributions, with several assists, screens and goals to hold off Team Singapore’s rally.
A 7m penalty goal by Leung Sin Ying in the 20th minute forced a timeout for the Singapore as they tried to strategise a last push for victory. Both teams went head to head as they tried to beat down their opponents. Tan Bee Leng fired in a 9m goal into the top left corner to shorten the deficit but their weary legs from last night’s match with the physically dominant Taipei Team were dragging them down in the closing periods of the match. Team Hong Kong capitalised on that and ignited their pace to put themselves up 9-23. In the final minutes of the game, team captain Grace Ong fired in a crowd pleaser from the left flank of the match to put Singapore up in double digits. Eventually, the Hong Kong girls rallied past Team Singapore 24-10 as they left Singapore looking for their first win of the tournament.
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