ACS(I) outplay Raffles Junior College to make final of National A Division Rugby Championship
Story and pictures by Les Tan
CCAB, Monday, May 5, 2008 – The Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) beat Raffles Junior College 17-13 this afternoon in the semi-final of the National A Division Rugby Championship in a game that showed the scoring threat of ACS(I).
Raffles fired themselves up at the start with their haka rendition, and while the rest of the ACS(I) team linked up to stare down, Blandon Tan (#13) of ACS saw fit to stand apart from his teammates, at one point turning his back on the RJC team as he adjusted his scrum cap.
Perhaps that was a reflection of the confidence in the ACS team as captain Bryan Wong scored the first try as early as the 4th minute to put ACS 5-0 up. Blandon converted the try to make it 7-0. The momentum of the game then swung the way of Raffles as the guys in green and black laid siege on the ACS half, threatening and probing the ACS defense line. At one point, RJC supporters cheered what they thought was a try but the referee did not deem it a try and it was not given, much to their dismay. That sustained period of Raffles pressure finally yielded a penalty and three points but no more.
Leading 7-3, the reply from ACS to the three points given up was another try by Bryan Wong to make it 12-3 which was not converted. By this point, it was clear that the ACS team were capable of crisp passing movement and their fullbacks were a handful for the Raffles team.
The half-time whistle gave RJC time to regroup and both sets of supporters were impatient for the restart, partly due to the fact that they had to endure an emcee who announced the wrong scoreline for the earlier semi-final, all the time mangling the English language while tossing some prizes for answering inane questions.
When the second half resumed, it was all Raffles from the whistle. ACS did not get a sniff of Raffles territory for a long, sustained period while the RJC boys just camped in their half. The pressure eventually paid off with a try by a Raffles forward Christopher Fang which was unconverted even though it was from a favourable angle and distance. Raffles now trailed 8-12 and it was game on.
The answer from ACS was swift in timing and execution. Joshua Rene Jeyaraj found enough space on the right wing to squeeze through for a try. Blandon missed the conversion from a tight angle but ACS now led 17-8.
And still it was not over. Raffles continued their fight, never giving up and continued attacking. They finally made ACS pay for their defensive mistakes when their forward Ashvin Raju (#14) went over for a try to make it 13-17. They were now only a try down with ten minutes to go.
Both teams were still up for the battle in the final moments and a drop kick attempt from 15m out by an ACS player hit the left upright. As time wound down and with their supporters willing them on, neither team could put any more points on the board. When the final whistle went, there were no ecstatic celebrations from the ACS team while in the Raffles camp, heads hung low for a bit, but no one slumped defeated to the ground. This is the first year since 1989 that RJC will not contest an A Division Championship final.
Said ACS(I) Coach Adrian Chong after the game: “We showed that we can score tries from anywhere. We have a good balance between backs and forwards.”
“I think they played well. They gave us a good fight,” said ACS(I) captain Bryan Wong on RJC. “Kudos to them for fighting back from 12-3 to 17-13. I think they displayed the true rugby spirit with their undying passion and fire which is very much commendable. We came into the game fully aware that Raffles were strong so we expected a tight game, and this is what we got. We gave our 100% and weren’t affected much about the scoreline; we played to the best of our abilities knowing our potential. However, it was testing of our faith both amongst our team mates and in God. During the last few minutes of the game, we were only leading by a mere 17-13 and that meant that a try scored by Raffles would seal the win for them. Despite this, we held firm to our beliefs and gave our all in the last moments, and by God’s grace, we pulled through with the win.”
ACS(I) will now face St Andrew’s Junior College in the final next Monday, May 12, at the Padang. Game time is 4:30 p.m. (as indicated in the comments section).
Ed’s note: If you recognise the players, feel free to leave their names in the comments section. More pictures in the gallery.
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