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.

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Md Khairulanwar of ACS(I) evades the tackle of Roy Tong to score his team’s first try. (Photo 1 © an ACS old boy)

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.

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ACS(I) captain Bryan Wong finds himself tackled by three incoming Saints, Abel Teo, Samuel Thio and Jesse Quek (left to right). (Photo 2 © Ng Cheng Cong)
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“Go left, right or straight through?” Farid of SAJC finds himself confronted by Joshua Jeyaraj of ACS(I). (Photo 3 © Ng Cheng Cong)
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“It’s a bit dark down here…” Kenn Wong of SAJC comes up with the ball from under the mass of bodies and legs. (Photo 4 © Ng Cheng Cong)
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“Eh, I give you my shorts later lah!” Abel Teo of SAJC finds himself tackled in two places by Leo Shyen (left) and Martin Butler (right). (Photo 5 © Ng Cheng Cong)
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Farid of SAJC gets hold of Shane Gan. (Photo 6 © Ng Cheng Cong)
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Saints’ scrumhalf Chan Mingqi looks for an open teammate. (Photo 7 © Ng Cheng Cong)
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Chan Mingqi finds himself tackled from behind by Joshua Jeyaraj of ACS(I). (Photo 8 © Ng Cheng Cong)
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The ball pops loose after Alexander Chuang’s tackle on Abel Teo of SAJC. (Photo 9 © Ng Cheng Cong)
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Alexander Chuang on the way to the try line after a brilliant mazy run early in the second half. (Photo 10 © Marvin Lowe)
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Alexander Chuang celebrates his try. (Photo 11 © an ACS old boy)
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Joshua Jeyaraj finds a break in the Saints line. (Photo 12 © an ACS old boy)
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Blandon Tan looks for space as Farid of SAJC closes in. (Photo 13 © an ACS old boy)
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A Saint looks like she can’t bear to see or hear what’s going on. Saints supporters outnumbered their ACS counterparts. (Photo 14 © Ng Cheng Cong)
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For rugby fans, school finals should always be at the Padang. (Photo 15 © Ng Cheng Cong)
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Liu Yi of ACS(I) does the haka… (Photo 16 © Ng Cheng Cong)
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…and is joined by teammate Sankaran. (Photo 17 © Ng Cheng Cong)
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Arthur Lim is consoled by his father, a Saints old boy. (Photo 18 © Ng Cheng Cong)
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Kenn Wong and his teammate Irtiza contemplate what could have been. (Photo 19 © Ng Cheng Cong)
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ACS(I) celebrate their victory with tears… (Photo 20 © Marvin Lowe)
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…while Blandon Tan shouts for joy. (Photo 21 © Marvin Lowe)

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.