Raffles topple defending champs Hwa Chong to take trophy after 23 years

By Lee Hwee Cheng

Highlights in Episode 13 of RedSportsTV.

LIVE UPDATE FROM TOA PAYOH SPORTS HALL

Toa Payoh Sports Hall, Wednesday, May 23, 2007 – Raffles Junior College (RJC) returned to the National A Division Netball Final this afternoon for the first time in six years and bore testimony that pure faith and determination are what you need to overcome all odds. The RJC team won a surprise 53-42 victory over defending champions and long-time dominator Hwa Chong Institution (HCI).

Raffles made their last appearance in the final in 2001, their last of three consecutive appearances from 1999, and were edged out by Hwa Chong then.  The route to the finals for the Rafflesians this season was already a remarkable, morale-boosting journey in itself.  Today’s victory, the first in 23 years, only made it so much sweeter.

The match was a cliffhanger throughout the entire 60 minutes of game play.  Raffles had taken the lead right from the start, and had seemed adamant not to let go of it.  All in the sports hall must have been waiting for the moment where Hwa Chong would finally bounce back and regain a sustained leading position, but save for a brief minute in the second quarter where they took over the lead by a mere point, that moment never came.  Every time Hwa Chong threatened to close in on them, the Rafflesians only seemed more determined to pull further ahead. 

On the court today, pure determination and real sweat permeated every corner while the match turned into a battle of mental strength.  It was truly a survival of the fittest.

In the earlier 3rd/4th placing match, Anglo-Chinese Junior College pulled out all the stops in their final game of the season as they trounced St Andrew’s Junior College 54-32 to win the bronze medals.

Editor’s note:  If we’ve gotten the names wrong in the caption, or if you recognize someone we don’t in those pictures, drop us a note in the "Comments" section.  For more action shots, visit the picture gallery!  Thanks! 

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Hello, everybody!

Welcome to another round of live reporting here on Red Sports.  Hope you’re liking it.

I’m Cheng, and I’m here at Toa Payoh Sports Hall this afternoon for the National ‘A’ Division Netball Finals, where Raffles Junior College are back after a six-year hiatus to face long-time nemesis Hwa Chong Institution for that championship trophy.

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Quarter 4
00:00  The final whistle blows!  RJC win the finals 53-42!
00:35  RJC GA Siew Kim scores 53-42.
00:56  HCI GS Rachel Leong scores 52-42.
01:04  RJC launch into a quick counter and GS Silei makes it complete with another goal under the basket 52-41.
01:40  RJC GS Silei scores again 51-41!
02:02  RJC GS Silei converts the attack into a goal 50-41.
02:17  HCI GA Yi Wei misses from long range and RJC go in quick counter.
02:36  RJC turn over ball possession and HCI get another chance to attack.
03:05  HCI GA Yi Wei misses a shot and RJC grab the rebound.
03:40  RJC GA Siew Kim misses her first shot, but makes her second from a rebound 49-41.
04:36  RJC GK Kelda makes another good interception in HCI offensive D, and RJC launch into another attack.
05:06  RJC GS Silei scores 48-41.
05:23  RJC GK Kelda intercepts a pass and RJC go on a quick counter attack.
05:46  HCI GS Rachel Leong scores 47-41.
06:05  RJC GA Siew Kim misses a shot but she has GS Silei to put in the rebound 47-40.
06:28  HCI GS Rachel Leong scores again 46-40.
06:50  HCI GS Rachel Leong scores 46-39.
07:10  RJC lose ball with a bad pass that goes out of bounds.
07:36  RJC GS Silei makes it good with another goal 46-38.
08:00  HCI turn over possession in the offensive D and RJC gain an attacking chance finally.
08:33  HCI make a quick counter from a good defensive play and GS Rachel Leong scores again 45-38.
09:04  After a few exchanges of ball possession and turnovers, HCI make an attack again and GS Rachel Leong scores 45-37.
10:08  HCI turn over ball possession when GS Rachel Leong body-bumps into RJC GK Kelda.
10:35  RJC GS Silei scores from long range 45-36.
11:03  HCI intercept an RJC attack and launch a quick counter, but lose ball possession with a bad pass.
11:25  HCI GS Rachel Leong scores again 44-36.
12:10  RJC GS Silei scores the first for her team 44-35.
12:38  HCI GS Rachel Leong scores again 43-35.
13:05  HCI GS Rachel Leong scores the first goal of the quarter 43-34.
13:31  HCI foil an RJC inbound pass and launch a quick attack.
14:18  HCI go on a quick counter but lose ball possession with a bad long pass.
14:20  RJC fail to keep ball possession and make a shot attempt.
15:00  RJC begin quarter 4 with centre pass.

Quarter 3 Analysis
–  HCI still can’t seem to wake up from the drowsiness of the afternoon, and they still have not made their magic.
–  RJC’s shooter Silei is impressing with her long limbs and her confidence in receiving all the high lobs and making all her shots count.  She is amazing from long range.
– RJC’s fighting spirit is commendable as everytime HCI push in closer, they pull away again.

Quarter 3
00:00  Quarter 3 ends and RJC continue to lead by ten points 43-33.
00:01  HCI GS Rachel Leong has a last-second penalty shot and makes it 43-33.
00:58  RJC GS Silei misses her shot but teammate GA Siew Kim takes the rebound and scores 43-32.
01:07  RJC GS Silei gets another chance at scoring and she makes it 42-32.
01:42  RJC GS Silei aims to take another shot but HCI GK Cassandra blocks it!
02:22  RJC GS Silei scores 41-32.
02:44  RJC GS Silei scores and pulls the lead away again 40-32.
03:10  HCI turn over another chance to attack.  RJC launch into attack again.
03;24  RJC GS Silei is on fire and she scores again 39-32.
03:42  HCI GA Yi Wei scores and pulls the gap closer 38-32.
04:01  HCI GS Rachel Leong scores 38-31.
04:44  RJC lose ball possession from a bad pass that goes out of bounds.
05:03  RJC GS Silei scores from long range yet again 38-30.
05:33  HCI GS Rachel Leong misses her shot and RJC launch a quick counter attack.
06:05  HCI GA Yi Wei scores from long range 37-30.
06:51  HCI GA Yi Wei scores 37-29.
07:15  RJC GS Silei scores long range again 37-28.
07:31  HCI GS Rachel Leong scores 36-28.
08:10  RJC GS Silei scores from long range again 36-27.
08:36  HCI make a poor inbound pass and send the ball out of bounds!  RJC regain attacking chance.
08:55  RJC lose ball possession and HCI go on attack.
09:24  HCI GS Rachel Leong puts in her own rebound 35-27.
09:37  RJC GS Silei puts in another one!  35-26.
09:54  RJC GS Silei scores again 34-26.
10:20  HCI turn over another ball possession, and RJC gain another attacking opportunity.
10:40  RJC GS Silei scores and pulls the lead away 33-26.
12:09  RJC GS Silei scores 31-26.
12:30  HCI GA Yi Wei scores to close the gap 30-26.

Quarter 2 Analysis
–  HCI find no fire today, as their game seems lacklustre and the girls are looking much less aggressive and much more tired than they were during the semifinals.
–  RJC, on the other hand, have continued to impress in the second quarter with their determined and composed play on court.  Good defense has helped the team force turnovers on HCI’s end, and RJC have capitalized by making their counter attacks count.

Quarter 2
00:00  Quarter 2 has ended, and it is amazing!  RJC lead 29-22
00:15  HCI GA Rachel Leong scores 29-22.
00:30  RJC GS Silei scores another one 29-21.
00:56  RJC GS Silei misses a shot, but teammate GA Siew Kim pops the ball back on a rebound 28-21.
01:19  HCI lose ball possession from the offensive D and RJC go on counter attack.
02:04  RJC GS Silei misses from close range!  But she recovers with a rebound 27-21.
02:19  HCI GA Rachel Leong scores 26-21.
02:51  RJC GS Silei scores from long range again 26-20.
03:12  HCI lose ball possession and RJC go on quick counter attack.
03:36  HCI GA Rachel Leong scores 25-20.
04:04  RJC GS Silei scores again 25-19.
04:24  RJC GS Silei scores another from long range!  RJC lead 24-19.
04:50  HCI turn over another ball possession.
05:25  RJC GA Siew Kim scores after missing her first 23-19.
05:58  HCI GS Cassandra finally scores for HCI 22-19.
06:39  RJC GS Silei scores again 22-18.
07:00  RJC GS Silei scores from long range 21-18.
07:30  RJC intercept HCI centre pass and regain another attacking chance.
07:37  RJC GA Siew Kim scores 20-18.
07:59  RJC GA Siew Kim misses a shot.  But RJC retain ball possession.
08:30  RJC GS Silei scores after missing the first shot and RJC take over the lead again 19-18.
08:57  RJC GS Silei levels the game again 18-18.
09:19  HCI GA Rachel Leong scores on second try after missing the first, and HCI take over the lead 17-18.
09:36  RJC GA Siew Kim misses from close range!  And HCI go on quick counter.
10:11  HCI GS Cassandra scores and levels the game 17-17.
10:43  RJC GS Silei misses a shot as the ball rolls over the rim.  HCI go on attack.
11:03  HCI GS Cassandra misses from close range!  But GS Rachel Leong take the rebound and scores 17-16.
11:27  RJC GS Silei scores 17-15.
12:03  HCI GA Rachel Leong misses a shot and RJC take over the attack.
12:30  RJC go on counter attack, but GS Silei misses her shot.  GA Siew Kim takes rebound and scores 16-15.
13:05  HCI GA Rachel Leong scores and levels the game  15-15.
13:43  HCI GS Cassandra scores 15-14.
14:03  RJC GS Silei makes a rebound and scores 15-13.
14:55  HCI GA Rachel Leong scores from long range  14-13.
15:00  Game continues with HCI centre pass.

Quarter 1 Analysis
–  RJC have fielded their tall shooter in the first period.  Clearly a head taller than HCI’s GK Lynette, RJC’s GS Silei has no difficulty receiving the ball under the basket, and making her own rebounds from missed shots.
–  The Raffles girls are putting up a good display of grit and determination in the first quarter.
–  Both sides are confident in passing and shooting, and few errors have been committed on both ends.

Quarter 1
00:00  RJC lead at the end of first quarter 14-12.
01:00  RJC GA Siew Kim scores 14-12.
01:20  HCI turn over ball possession and RJC start a quick attack.
01:34  RJC GS Silei scores 13-12.
01:56  HCI GS Cassandra scores and levels the game 12-12.
02:22  RJC GS Silei misses from long range.
02:45  HCI GS Cassandra scores 12-11.
03:10  RJC lose ball posession and HCI go on attack.
03:26  HCI GA Rachel Leong scores 12-10.
03:49  HCI GS Cassandra scores 12-9.
03:57  HCI Centre Shannon foils RJC centre pass and HCI go on quick counter.
04:24  HCI GA Rachel Leong misses a shot, but makes her own rebound 12-8.
04:59  HCI GD Anna intercepts a pass and HCI go on counter.
05:21  HCI lose ball possession and lose one attacking chance.  RJC take over attack.
05:56  RJC GS Silei scores on second try 12-7.
06:05  RJC GS Silei misses another shot, but RJC regain possession.
06:49  RJC GS Silei scores 11-7.
07:00  RJC foil another HCI attack and go on counter.
07:31  RJC GA Siew Kim misses, GS Silei catches rebound but misses, and this time it is GA Siew Kim again who makes the rebound shot 10-7.
07:56  HCI GA Rachel Leong scores 9-7.
08:29  RJC GS Silei misses from long range but makes own rebound and scores again 9-6.
08:50  HCI GA Rachel Leong scores 8-6.
09:15  RJC GS Silei scores from long-range 8-5.
09:43  RJC GS Silei misses her first shot and catches her own rebound and scores 7-5.
10:06  HCI turn over a possession and RJC get another attacking chance.
10:19  RJC GA Siew Kim scores 6-5.
10:43  HCI GA Rachel Leong scores 5-5.
11:02  RJC GS Silei scores 5-4.
11:21  HCI GA Rachel Leong scores 4-4.
12:01  RJC GA Rachel Leong scores 4-3.
12:31  HCI foil RJC attack and go on counter attack.
12:45  RJC GS Silei scores 4-2.
13:01  RJC intercept HCI attack and go on counter attack.
13:14  RJC GA Siew Kim scores 3-2.
13:38  HCI GA Rachel Leong scores 2-2.
14:02  RJC GS Silei scores 2-1.
14:23  HCI GA Rachel Leong scores 1-1.
14:44  RJC GS Silei scores 1-0.
15:00  Game begins with RJC centre pass.