KUALA LUMPUR – The national men’s junior hockey squad failed to win the final leg of their 2021 United Kingdom Tour Series, losing 0-1 to the Scottish Under-23 team at the Clydesdale Hockey and Cricket Club, Glasgow. early Saturday.
It was Scotland’s maiden victory over the National Men’s Special Project Squad under head coach Wallace Tan in the tour series after the two teams were tied 1-1 at the same venue on Friday.
Despite closing the tour series with the unintended result, Wallace said his men had given their best and were able to learn some positive things from the match.
“I feel pleased with the good development from the players but there are still things they need to learn,” he said in a statement issued by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC).
Overall, the country’s young squad comprising Under-21 players (U-21) recorded two wins and a draw in eight matches during the tour series which started on Oct 3.
Wallace’s side failed to win their first four games, losing to Repton HC 0-2, England U-21 (2-3), England U-21 (0-2) and Hampstead & Westminster H.C (1-3).
However, they bounced back to achieve success in the fifth and sixth games when they beat the Wales U-23 team 2-1 and England U-21 5-4 before the draw and losing in the games against Scotland.
Apart from acknowledging that his squad showed improvement in every match in the United Kingdom, Wallace said the tour series also provided space and opportunity for the country’s junior players to regain the atmosphere of high-intensity matches.
“The team did not play a competitive match in two years. So this tour series is something pretty good for the team. We have learned a lot besides being able to play as a team, build team spirit and learn to improve on what is necessary,” he said.
The National Men’s Special Project Squad are expected to arrive in the country from the United Kingdom, tomorrow and will participate in the Junior World Cup in Bhubaneswar, India in November.
