Story by Les Tan. Pictures by Ng Cheng Cong and Marvin Lowe. Additional pictures by ACS old boy. Catch game highlights and the hakas by both teams on RedSportsTV.
Padang, Monday, May 12, 2008 – The Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) beat St Andrew’s Junior College 21-8 to capture the National A Division Rugby Championship title. With this win, ACS(I) made up for their 10-13 overtime loss to Raffles Junior College last year. The win is also extra special for this bunch of ACS(I) ruggers, with the core of the team having experienced the loss of three consecutive B Division finals to St Andrew’s Secondary from 2004 to 2006.
At 3:45 p.m., the 1,500 Saint supporters had already turned up in significant numbers while their rugby team warmed up on the grounds of the nearby St Andrew’s Cathedral. The crowd buzzed with excitement as the two teams lined up to stare each other down. As the Saints launched into a rendition of their haka, the clueless DJ and emcee continued playing loud obnoxious music and making unneeded announcements, wrecking the occasion for the Saints team and their supporters.
By the time the game got underway, the ACS(I) supporters were still smaller in number but the game is won on the pitch and ACS(I) showed their domination by squatting in the Saints half from the whistle, hitting their opponents with wave after wave of attacks. That early pressure brought ACS(I) close to the try line but they just couldn’t go over. All they had to show for their early effort was a Blandon Tan (#13) penalty to put themselves up 3-0.
That lead proved short-lived. From the restart, the Saints supporters in turn had something to cheer about when a handling error by Ian Gan of ACS(I) gave the Saints the ball at a line-out deep in ACS(I) territory. From the ensuing attack, a drop-kick attempt executed flawlessly by Jesse Quek made it 3-3.
Whatever hopes the Saints had of moving ahead in the game were quickly squashed though. ACS(I) came back with another penalty through Blandon Tan and they added another five points with a flying try by Md. Khairulanwar, his ninth try of the campaign. Blandon Tan converted beautifully from an acute angle from the left sideline and both teams walked off with ACS(I) leading 13-3 at the half.
Early in the second half, a brilliant mazy run by Alexander Chuang Yi (#11) of ACS(I) led to a try after some good work by teammate Ian Gan (#9), a move which had ACS(I) supporters in ecstasy and neutrals applauding in admiration. The conversion was fluffed but at 18-3, the game was now getting away from the Saints.
But Saints still made a game of it. Picking themselves up, Saints drove deep into ACS(I) territory, and their supporters hopes rose in tandem. This was now the high point of the Saints attack and as the wave of blue and white shirts moved forward, the ACS blue and yellow line braced for the attack. Saints forwards hammered away at the ACS defensive line, picking the ball and hitting against their opponents time and again, looking, probing and searching for that one weak spot to score against their arch-rival. Saints’ pressure brought them to within metres of the try line, their formidable forward pack the vanguard of their attack. They could see it, almost touch it, but every pick-and-go hit an ACS(I) wall and they just could not go over it. ACS(I) repulsed everything thrown their way and survived. Their line held.
Regrouping, Saints came back again, never giving up, and this time their efforts were rewarded. Captain Arthur Lim (#8) broke through with a try down the left flank, right in front of cheering supporters. The score read 8-21. Would there, could there be an improbable comeback?
Whatever flicker of hope they had were snuffed out when first, Saints kicker Kenn Wong (#7) missed from 10m out, right in front of the goal post, then Blandon Tan of ACS(I) put another three points on the board for his team to make it 21-8. When Blandon’s ball sailed through the posts, the whistle went, and ACS(I) arms went up in jubilation.
Saints were outfought on the day, their cause not helped by losing more than their fair share of line-outs and handling errors that stopped their attacking waves in mid-stride. On their day, perhaps they would have been a match, but this was not that day.
“The boys played to instruction,” said Coach Adrian Chong of ACS(I). “We disrupted their (SAJC) possession because we knew that when their forwards get the ball, it’s dangerous. The highlight of the game for me was the first try because we worked to win as many phases before unleashing our wingers. The boys managed to carry that sequence out to perfection.”
As the ACS(I) boys launched into their haka and sang their school song, old boys recalled their day on the Padang. While both teams will only have present thoughts of sweet victory or bitter defeat, the time will come when both will recall with equal relish that they, and nobody else, had played this day on the Padang.
ACS(I) line up:
Eric Ong (#1)
Bryan Wong (#2)
Liu Yu (#3)
John Yeo (#5)
Leo Yi Shyen (#4)
Timothy Gay (#7)
Martin Butler (#6)
Arnold Chen (#8)
Ian Gan (#9)
Shane Gan (#10)
Md Khairulanwar (#14)
Justin Boey (#12)
Blandon Tan (#13)
Joshua Rene Jeyaraj (#21)
Alexander Chuang Yi (#11)
Subs:
Jared Hoon
Douglas Wong
Isaac Lim
Ben Chong
Victor Tan
Sankaran
Joel Lim
Tanaan Quek
Marcus Ting
Saints line up:
1 Carlos Tan (#1)
2 Arthur Lim (#8)
3 David Tambunan (#4)
4 Jegathesan s/o Thanebal (#24)
5 Samuel Thio (#5)
6 Darrell Low (#17)
7 Daniel Lum (#6)
8 Kenn Wong (#7)
9 Chan Ming Qi (#9)
10 Farid (#16)
11 Abel Teo (#15)
12 Daniel Chua (#12)
13 Jesse Quek (#13)
14 Roy Tong (#14)
15 Sirhan (#11)
More pictures in the gallery.
although i am still new in ACS(I), really proud of my school!
To god be the glory, the best is yet to be!
let them go at it! just adds to the taste of rugby which is sorely missing ( the passion, the intensity, the school spirit ) at the next level – the club level.
having played the game myself, i would like to urge all school rugby players. to cherish these moments. they are and will be the best moments of your lives.
enjoy it while it last and keep the rivalry going!
Let’s go AC!
ACSI is truely the UNDISPUTED CHAMPIONS for rugby.
They have not lost a single game in all divisions this year, including winning the U-14 n U-19 ISSAC CHAMPIONSHIPS agst the much bigger and tougher International schools’ ruggers
That even ( according to a source ) during a RI school event, an influential Rafflesian paid tribute to ACSI and call them ” KING OF RUGBY “.
Now this is an HONOUR!
It was a great game. Both team fought well unfortunately for us ACSI came out victors. Congratulations ACSI
Sluggers, (as well as gentlemen) r in every school n every sport.
A school’s good standing and reputation does not hinge on what netizens or detractors say nor any apologies offered.
It has been built over time, and over a wide spectrum of prerequisites.
Understandably, it is at times disappointing to see certain uncharacteristic behaviour, especially from premier schools.
Perhaps, we shld be more forbearing, giving them the benefit of the doubt that its done with no ill-intend.
The baying for apologies shld cease, as i m almost certain, it will yield a futile response.
We shld just agree to disagree amicably and as long as the bantering is done within boundaries, DONT take remarks too personal. Otherwise, the one that needs deliverance and restoration is thyself.
Live and Let Live.
to observer :
whatever.
the sluggers’ school may rue the missed opportunity to restore their good name in the years to come.
Hi, ACSians and friends may like to visit this site for more pictures of the A Division rugby final. Cheers.
sportingspirit.blogspot.com
First and foremost, I am an ACSian so I readily admit that i have my own personal bias but I am hoping to give as objective a view as I possibly can.
On the topic of ACSI having an advantage of players playing for 6yrs, it should be noted that at least 4 players from the ACSI team had less than 2 years experience in Rugby. They were completely new to the game. Although they were not first-team regulars, but it shows that ACSI’s team is not made up of ruggers who are battle-hardened warriors from sec 1. There is a first team player who joined in late sec 2. Again, showing that even some of the first team players do not have as long a game experience as what is assumed. Although this might sound defensive of ACSI, but I want to acknowledge that other teams in the Big 4 are also in the same boat, with teams made up of players with varying levels of experience. As far as I am concerned, SAJC has got a few players who are older than 18 as they have repeated the year. So if you all want to harp on this topic of age and experience, there will be no end to it.
Also, on the point of DSA-ed players, pls do not belittle the achievements of the winning team by attributing the win to players that have been DSA-ed. Not only is this act disrespectful to the team as a whole, I also shows a basic lack of understanding of the importance of teamwork in Rugby. Championships are won not because of a few “star” DSA-ed players. Championships are won by a team with solid teamwork, skills and hunger. Dont you think that attributing a win like last yrs final to DSA-ed players is slightly disrepectful to other non-DSA-ed players in the winning team? Didnt they play a part?
In closing, I would like to commend the coaches and players of EVERY team that took part in the competition, not just the winners of the finals or the teams that made it to the knockout rounds. I am sure every player worked hard and gave his best. So let’s stop arguing and take a step back to appreciate the game for what it is, not just petty interschool squabbles. The finals have been played and ACSI are the victors for 2008. Nothing can change it. They were the better team on that day, despite whatever you want to say about their levels of experience and years together as a team. Please give all the players credit for the hard-fought match that they have trained hard for. Let’s forget what is past and look forward to an excellent A div 2009.
what’s over is over, and i think all that matters it that it was a match well played (:
just out of curiosity, what percentage of acsi pupils are in the IB programme? will all the players be together for the whole 6 years?
I agree with i spy’s comments, 14 May “Of rugby mums, punches …. and, oh yes, rugby) : –
“You know ….. at this juncture, it would be really nice if the sluggers (you know who you are) step up and redeem the good name of their school and the game of rugby”.
hey guys. rugby is supposed to be a fun game. but pple are ruggers are quarreling over a rugby match. come on guys. sportsenthu is right. in the end, singapore rugby will benefit with all good players coming from different sources. make peace and hope to see all potential national ruggers on the field wearing ‘singapore’ across the chest 🙂
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