Three-goal run proves decisive

ST Mary's Canossian College beat CMA Choi Cheung Kok Prevocational School 9-6 to clinch the girls' Jing Ying handball championship thus dashing the latter's hopes of winning both the boys' and girls' titles.

CMA Choi Cheung Kok (the New Territories boys' and girls' champions) were strong contenders at the competition recently held at Kowloon Park Indoor Games Hall.

A keenly-contested first-half saw St Mary's (Hongkong and Kowloon champions) and Choi Cheung Kok tie the game at 3-3.

After the break, the two teams were on level terms twice at 4-4 and 5-5, but the more experienced St Mary's finally got into gear when Chi Hoi-yin put her side ahead for good at 6-5 in the 28th minute.

Five minutes from time, top-scorer Lo See-hin scored three goals in a row to seal St Mary's victory.

In the boys' section, Tang Wai-lung scored four goals and Wong Ka-fai added three to guide CMA Choi Cheung Kok to an 11-7 victory over Shun Lee Catholic Secondary School and win the Jing Ying title.

Shun Lee Catholic Secondary School (the Hongkong and Kowloon representative) briefly flickered into life in the first quarter, taking a 3-2 lead in the seventh minute.

CMA Choi Cheung Kok soon settled down and underlined their mastery with a spirited 6-0 run to take an a 8-3 lead five minutes before half-time.

Shun Lee's defence crumbled in the face of CMA Choi Cheung Kok's fierce attack to trail 9-4 at half-time.

In the second half, CMA Choi Cheung Kok maintained their five-goal advantage until Shun Lee pulled one consolation goal back three minutes from time to take the final score to 11-7.

''At present the Jing Ying handball competition is the only event for top players and the Hongkong Schools Sports Council (HKSSC) may organise interport matches with China in order to raise standards,'' said Mr Lam King-yeung, PE Inspector of the HKSSC.

Mr Wan is an official of the Hongkong School Sports Association