Story and pictures by Les Tan
The Padang, Monday, April 14, 2008 – The Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) saw off a spirited Raffles Institution fightback in the second half to escape with a 15-11 win over Raffles Institution this afternoon at the Padang.
Rugby finals have been played at the Police Academy in Chua Chu Kang in recent years but this year’s decision to play at the Padang rekindled many warm memories for old boys and rugby fans who grew up with the Padang as the spiritual home of inter-school championship finals.
But there was little time for reflection for both present day teams as they locked horns from the starting whistle. ACS drew first blood when Colin Lee kicked a penalty to give his school a 3-0 lead with just 5 minutes gone on the clock.
The reply from RI was swift. Alimi converted a penalty kick just two minutes later to even the score up at 3-3.
ACS then earned themselves another penalty but missed and were made to pay when Alimi of RI again put a penalty ball through the posts to thrust RI into the lead for the first time at 6-3 at the 15-min mark.
After missing a previous penalty, Colin Lee of ACS then had another chance to even things up with a penalty kick from 25m. But just as Colin Lee was about to kick, the emcee – who made verbal gaffes throughout the afternoon – thoughtlessly announced the arrival of some guest-of-honour, much to the annoyance of the ACS crowd. Colin blew the kick wide and the two teams walked off at half-time with RI leading 6-3.
If the first half was about penalties, the second half was about tries. ACS, who showed they could play a smooth passing and running game with a string of at least 10 uninterrupted passes at one stage in the second half, finally unlocked the RI defence 15 minutes into the second half.
The ACS move started on the right and the ball was passed along until it hit Nazryn who provided the crucial breakthrough when he rode two RI tackles to create a gap for teammate Kenny Chua to run through. It was now a foot race all the way to the try line but Kenny was fast enough to even touch down directly under the posts. Colin Lee converted and now ACS were leading 10-6.
Again, an RI reply was forthcoming. A move down the right flank ended with Bryan Koh of RI breaking through the ACS defence on the left and diving home just inside the flag and over for the try. Alimi’s failed conversion attempt meant RI were now leading only by 11-10 with still time left on the clock for ACS to recover.
ACS, with a heavier forward pack, finally banged and bashed their way through for another try with 5 minutes left when vice-captain Don Koh picked the ball up among a mountainous mass of players and jumped over for the try. Colin Lee’s failed conversion attempt left them holding a tenuous 15-11 lead.
RI now threw all they had into a final attempt to come back into the game. They threatened enough times in the closing moments with their probing, running game to cause ACS hearts to stop beating but their final man was always left stranded and they saw no breakthrough.
When the final whistle went to confirm ACS(Ind) as winners, the ACS supporting hordes flooded the field in celebration of the school’s 9th B Division Championship title, while RI have now gone 17 years without that title.
“They did very, very well. I think RI played a little bit above themselves. They had a very good game plan,” said coach Jock Tiernan of ACS(Ind). “Their school level is marginally lower in fitness level than ACS and it told in the end. At the end of the game, it was down to fitness levels.”
ACS captain Kenny Chua finished the season with 22 tries and is the all time top try scorer for ACS(Ind). Said Kenny: “Overall we worked together. We stuck to the game plan. Even when we were down, we knew we could come back because we knew that our game plan would work. Our game plan was to hit up channel one then go the blind side before unleashing the ball. And we knew what we were capable of. I’m sure all of us feel really proud, satisfied, that our hard work has paid off. We trained alot, and we have done our coaches really proud too.”
A tribute to those who came out to support their teams
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWAgcKGI-50
An interview with Kenny Chua
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBYQD95DJao
The ACS (Ind) team does its haka after receiving their medals and trophy.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-R_m655rKE
N.B. If you recognise the players, feel free to leave their names in the comments section with reference to the photo number and we’ll update the captions. Thanks.
ACS(Ind) team list:
Jack Ho (#1)
Don Koh (#2)
Christopher Ooi (#3)
Ethan Nava (#4)
Austyn Yong (#5)
Kuan Chung Kai (#6)
Sahail Solihin B. Abdul Malek (#7)
Nicholas Sean Kan (#8)
Timothy Cheah (#10)
Colin Lee (#10)
Lim Kian Chun (#11)
Md Mazryn B. Md Jaffar (#12)
Kenny Chua (#14)
David Tjioe (#23)
Tan Chuan Xi (#15)
Dominic (#16)
Lee Jo Hee (#20)
Wilfred Ong (#19)
Marcus Chan (#27)
Mattias Chia (#24)
Suprianto Suryono (#22)
Nicolas Drew Lexmond (#21)
Cavan Ho (#18)
Tan Swee Kiak (#17)
Low Zhende (#26)
Toh Wei Xiang (#9)
James Tan (#25)
Raffles team list:
Dixon Yu (#1)
Shannon Sin (#2)
Isaac Ng (#3)
Lim Shao Chun (#4)
Mark Tay (#5)
Sung Ming Tham (#6)
Jason Goh (#7)
Russel Wong (#8)
Muhd Saifuldin (#9)
Lennie Wee (#10)
Mark Yeo (#11)
Bryan Koh (Captain, #12)
Marcus Koe (#13)
Avinash Raju (#14)
Muhd Alimi (#15)
Muhd Fitri (#16)
Jon Lim (#17)
Maskil (#18)
Nigel/ Biquan (#19)
Eddy Goh (#20)
Fauzan (#21)
Ahmad Hussaini (#22)
Ahmad Muliadi (#23)
Shaun Lau (#24)
Chin Yan Xun (#25)
Huang Renyong (#26)
Feng Luwei (#27)
Aravin Kumar (#28)
i love the rafflesian spirit
hmm… the haka sure sounds a little different from how the team used to do it. should be a little slower and more intimidating. then again, when you’ve won the trophy, you can do whatever you want.
congrats!
To Another Rafflesian, you said “if I’m not mistaken, our school doesn’t have the money nor do the players have time to train their physical fitness as well as the Rugby players do.” are you implying that our players buy their hardwork through our school’s money? and our players have just as much dedication to other things other than physical training as you rafflesians so please don’t give such excuses. Also “you have to consider that we had lost the game and it’s been 17 years since we reached the finals. Everyone had high expectations for the B division team but they had lost.” Your words contradict themselves Another Rafflesian, if you can think of such reasons prepared to cover your loss, then why do you have such high expectations in winning and thus giving your students to scold vulgarities. Anyway the unsightly scenes were not from just one side but both and i feel that our schools should try to address this matter in an appropriate manner. The point is we both played a fair and just game though there were unsightly scenes from both sides thus great job everyone for that great final you have shown to us.
Hi, ACSians and friends may like to visit this site for pics of the B final:
sportingspirit.blogspot.com
The site will take a few minutes to load due to the high volume of pics.
Come on guys, let’s not jump to conclusions. Does anyone have any idea what payroll’s these coaches are on? If anyone actually bothered finding out you’d be surprised. For ACSI i know we have two coaches and two assistant coaches – considering we have 6 levels and the assistant coaches have their own commitments as well.
To middleMan, by posting such a thing online you are implicating that these students weren’t well taught by the school. In the same light where RI students will have tendancies to hurl vulgarities in anger, the ACSI boys will possibly get carried away with our victory. I’m not saying this is right but come on, is an apology letter really necessary?
heyyo.
well…good game.n yea its all over.
congrats to acsi. though im nt sure about the last try there.
but like lennie wee said, there has to be a winner.and final outcome’s out.
cngrats to d ref.nie refereeing.
cngrats to all d coaches involved.
cngrats to the supporters.
cngrats to RI team finally for (quoted) “reviving Raffles Rugby”
n to supporters on both sides whom some have mentioned here,
please dont disgrace your respective school’s name. its alil immatured. and you dont play, so why so worked up?anw.respect to all the players, esp RI whom ive known and worked with for the last three years.thanks bros.
being a raffles alumnus and an asci-rugby-mom, i must say both schools are equally commendable. Both played with tenacity,fighting spirit,and the whole works.(everyone has strengths and weaknesses. We work to build the former,and overcome the latter.) It was a final, most deserving of praise. Its been a long time since we witnessed a fair and gentlemanly game! So was the refereeing! Lets not fault-find. It was a delight having Raffles as a worthy opponent. Our boys gave a standing ovation in recognition of that . This, despite old rivalry, is sportsmanship and gentlemanly behaviour.
If an old girl is considered part of the Raffles family, i would implore the ‘witness’ to please seek out those rafflesians who first showed disrespect to our school flags,by discarding them as rags! Why are the flags thrown to the ground in the first place?
Sports, should promote friendship and healthy competition. Lets not tear another down, but encourage and build each other up. Both schools produce many of the finest in every field.
In my personal opinion, the match was well fought by both teams, but it is GRACE that brought us home. ‘TO GOD BE THE GLORY’
Wah ck you also check this website everyday uh!
And pic 14 Ck you stealing my tackle uh, its me lol.. see the long sleeve skins? (HAHA!)
Nice i actually look rather homo there.
The ref wasnt screwed. Ref Harry did a brilliant job that day.
the ref was screwed. anyway alimi momojojokokolomosopootoolupee. and shannon cfm is the one saying thats hes sexy wth praise yourself. mamam blahblhahahaha pehpeh.
*chun
cheh Sahail… you vist this website everyday ar?
y Feng Luwei nvr play? i thought he their star number 8? he injured?
AND PIC no.14 THE GUY BEHIND IS NOT ME ITS CUNH ARGH! BIG DIF LEH!(cause its chun)
…i noticed the ref was quite fair…which is quite rare…
and finally…good game raffles…no bad feelings…no disrespect la
Haha! Alimi I bet you wanted to punch that guy’s face.
To Alimi :
Ohdear. On their behalf, i sincerely apologise dude. If you still not happy, you come my school we go find them/him/her.
Excellent coverage Leslie. On the 300mm f/2.8 L USM IS?
Had planned to go down to support the alma mater, and take some photos but ended late at the wards. Hope to see you around man!
Hats off to you guys for your sportsmanship and gentlemanliness. That is true honour.
well done alimi!!! =)
you’re a great player