Story by Zachary Foo/Red Sports. Photos by Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports
Mohammad-Mikha Khaleel Haat (#8) of ACS(I) protects the ball from a St. Andrew’s tackle. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)
National Stadium, Tuesday, August 26, 2014 — Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) [ACS(I)] defeated St. Andrew’s Secondary (SAS) 28–8 in the final of the National C Division Rugby (Cup) Championship. This was a reverse of the previous year’s result, when Saint Andrew’s were 14–13 victors.
This is the first school final at the new National Stadium.
Coming into the final, ACS(I) held the advantage. They beat St. Andrew’s in the group stages by a whopping 73–0 scoreline, which gave them the psychological edge prior to kickoff.
ACS(I) were aggressive immediately after the kickoff, fashioning a chance to score almost immediately. However, they were unable to do so after conceding a penalty to SAS, which allowed them to clear the ball. Mohammad-Mikha Khaleel Haat [ACS(I) #8] did a lot of damage for ACS(I) early on, as his rampaging runs proved hard for SAS to stop.
The breakthrough of the match came when Tristan Yeow [ACS(I) #12] caught an errant pass from an SAS player. Tristan burst through the SAS defence to score the first try of the game. Matthew Robinson [ACS(I) #9] converted the try with an accurate kick through the uprights.
The try galvanised the ACS(I) team as a whole and they found themselves within SAS territory again immediately after the kickoff. SAS did not help themselves with poor kicking, as the ACS(I) players ran down the ball each time.
Douglas Ang [ACS(I) #7] got the second try of the match, after finding a gap through the SAS defence. Douglas used his speed to beat the SAS defence to the try line. SAS had a chance to score right before half-time. Their forward pack did well to advance the ball deep, but a fumble by their backs squandered their chance. ACS(I) went into the half with a comfortable 14–0 lead.
The second half saw a more spirited SAS team come out to play. Their forward pack was more assertive in driving the ball, which kept the ACS(I) defence on the back foot. After getting a penalty in deep position, SAS opted to kick. Ang Seow Pin (SAS #14) was able to convert the penalty, giving his team three points. ACS(I) almost answered back immediately with a drive down the right wing. However, SAS did well to stop them at the sidelines.
The match seemed to turn in SAS’s favour when Mohammad-Mikha Khaleel Haat [ACS(I) #8] was yellow-carded and sent to the sin bin. With the threat of his runs out of the way, SAS were more willing to take the initiative to attack with an extra man. Despite this, ACS(I) still found a way to score. Isaac Tan [ACS(I) #3] was able to break through and score against the run of play, essentially killing off any momentum SAS gathered up to that point. This became evident after the restart, as ACS(I) resumed their dominant play from the first half.
Josh Quan [ACS(I) #11] put the icing on the cake for ACS(I), grabbing the hand-off after a scrum and rushing past a few SAS defenders to score. In the waning moments of the game, Philip Distor Joseph (SAS #4) scored a consolation try for the Saints. But it was all too late, as the final whistle sounded after the missed conversion kick to hand the 28–8 win to ACS(I). This is ACS(I)’s 17th C Division title. They reclaimed their title, after going down 13–14 to the Saints in 2013.
ACS(I) captain, Ian Teh (#13), said, “It was a very important win for us as we wanted to get the shield back from last year. When the Saints had a resurgence in the second half, the only thing I thought about was whether the team can defend together and keep our composure. I hope that we will be able to win again next season in the B Division, as it is a really good feeling. I would like to thank my coaches, teachers and the whole school for coming down to support us. It feels good to see everyone cheering for us in unison.”
Scoring by Quarter
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) vs St. Andrew’s Secondary
1st Half: 14–0
2nd Half: 14–8 (28–8)
Try Scorers
ACS(I)
Isaac Tan (#3) – 1 try
Douglas Ang (#7) – 1 try
Josh Quan (#11) – 1 try
Tristan Yeow (#12) – 1 try
Matthew Robinson (#9) – 4 conversions
SAS
Philip Distor Joseph (#4) – 1 try
Ang Seow Pinn (#14) – 1 penalty
ACS(I) Roster
Neo Yuan Tong (#1), Benjamin Lim (#2), Isaac Tan (#3), Jared Chow (#4), Sim Soon Xiang (#5), Krellstein Thomas (#6), Douglas Ang (#7), Mohammad-Mikha Khaleel Haat (#8), Matthew Robinson (#9), Nicholas Ethan Wong (#10), Josh Quan (#11), Tristan Yeow (#12), Ian Teh (#13), Jaian Kurup (#14), Benjamin Poey (#15), Janan Yap (#16), Bryan Ang (#17), Isaac Heng (#18), Joel Ting (#19), Lucas Teng (#21), Kongpote Chamapun (#22), Lam Wei Xuan (#25), Elroy Irwan Jahjoo Loo (#26), Adian-Scott Veroff Ee Chew (#27), Shane Patrick Duggan (#28), Reuben Pang (#31), Reuben Sivadas Ruixian (#32), Sean Tan (#36)
SAS Roster
Goh Wei En Mark (#1), Alexander Ismail Brown (#2), Choo Jian Hao (#3), Philip Distor Joseph (#4), Navaraj Rajendran (#5), Ezekiel Koh Giap Teng (#6), Donovan Choo Jun Mun (#7), Lee Sze Yong Benjamin (#8), Khairil Ridzuan B Zulkilfee (#9), Renald Lim Sheng Yew (#10), Jelinek Dylan Kirk (#11), Umar B Mohamed Sha’ari (#12), Lim Chang Yuan (#13), Ang Seow Pinn (#14), Ryan Sim Ming Hui (#15), Chan Chung Yan Jackie (#16), Daryl Liau Guo Zhi (#17), Webster Matthew James Wei Yang (#18), Miguel Erwin Besoro William (#19), Chong Dillion (#20), Mohamad Haikal Zafran B M A (#21), Sean Er Zhong Xuan (#22), Ethan Lee Junxian (#23), Morgan Owain Rhys (#24), Brennan Ng Zheng Yang (#25), Jerome Loh Kai Jun (#26), Chua Wei Li (#27), Julian Leow Tze An (#28)
National C Division Rugby Championship — Fixtures and Results
More photos next page
[…] In 2014, ACS(I) were the superior and had their own way with the Saints, as they clinched easy 73–… […]
Adrain, using your personal reputation as an ex-referee and player to vouch for Azhar’s performance is as good as Prof X vouching for Magneto; afterall they are both mutants – it holds no water. Have you watched the movie “Moneyball”? It demonstrates the power of objective data. Stats do not lie. They show trends, and from there we spot outliers. Let me show you some objective data, obtained from Redsports:
ACSI vs Barker 71-0 Saints vs Barker 27-19
ACSI vs RI 69-0 Saints vs RI 10-10
ACSI vs Montfort 87-5 Saints vs Montfort 43-0
ACSI vs Pioneer 85-0 Saints vs Pioneer 39-7
ASCI vs Saints 73-0
The semifinal results were pretty consistent with the performances of the team in the prelim round: ACSI vs RI 67-0 while Saints vs Barker 21-15 (on the 21/8/14)
Then suddenly, 5 days later on the grand finals on the 26/8/14, Saints vs ACSI was 28-8
Can you see the trend? Can you spot the outlier? Adrian, by all means, produce some objective data to substantiate your view. Perhaps do a penalty count. I am especially interested in the NATIONAL SCHOOLS rugby games that Azhar officiated which did not involve ACS. We need an apple to apple comparison.
Dear Daniel Thiam, you seemed to confuse qualification (competence) with integrity. The essence of these comments did not question his competence, but rather his partiality, or rather the lack of it. No one will argue that Lance Armstrong is not a qualified cyclist. See the point? Actually to call him incompetent is better than to call him biased, because the latter suggest intentionality.
But I believe everyone should have a right to defend themselves, to rebut these criticisms with solid objective stats. So I will appreciate if you, or Adrian, or Redsports can forward these comments to Azhar or to SRU for their comments. This is only fair. I am sure that you, as coach of Saints, is all for fair play. As Saints look forward to 2015 as the year to get the Grandslam. I am sure that you are confident in your boys to achieve this by their own merit. Sometimes perception is as important as reality. I trust that you will insist that Azhar do not officiate in any game that involve ACS for next year’s National School rugby so that no one can casts aspersions on the Saints Grandslam.
This guy should be audited by SRU ! I watched the B finals in April, first match before it was suspended due to lightning warning. Majority of the spectators were apalled by his overwhelming one sided calls. Disbelief that he is the best they can get ??
I watched the first B finals and already thought he should be banned from refereeing. Surprised he is chosen again for the C finals. PESEB and SRU should do a proper audit on their referees. He spoilt the games !
I refer to the post made by Mr Adrian Lee. I am from neither school contesting in the final. Besides they did not have rugby in girls school back then. However, I am a fervent supporter of local schools rugby and I am often at the matches.
I was at the match yesterday and I personally thought Mr Azhar was rather strict in his interpretation of the laws of rugby. For that, he cannot be faulted. However, when the penalty count against one team is something like 8-9:1 that of the other team, then one not at the game may think that perhaps, only one team was doing the fouling. However, like many who were there yesterday, that was clearly not the case. Sure there were offsides, coming in from the side, playing the ball on the ground, not releasing, not rolling away etc, but hang on, Saints were just as guilty of the above infringes as ACSI. That is my main grouse.
As a lover of sports, all we want is a referee who is fair, and exacting in his standards, and consistent in his application of the laws to both teams. Nothing spoils a game more than when it is perceived to be unfair.
For Singapore Rugby to improve, there must be some way for the referees to be assessed, so that they can improve as they go on. For starters, there must be peer reviews as well as other forms of objective audits to follow from the IRB. Not sure if these things are currently in place, but with these, Singapore Rugby will sure improve, and isn’t that the aim of the SRU?
All things aside, it was a wonderful event yesterday. It was especially heartening to see both teams come together after the match to share a prayer of peace. Such is rugby, you can go at each other’s throats during the match, but still shakes hands and share a drink after the game. It was also invigorating to see the young people on the terraces cheering heartily the brave warriors on the pitch. The energy and atmosphere was particularly invigorating. Kudos to Sportshub, MOE and SRU for staging such a magnificent event. I for one, am eagerly waiting for the next edition!
I think Azahar applied the law of rugby correctly.
Being an ex-referee and player myself, I think he officiated the game well.
Barring some incidences on the other side where it is not visible. This is where the assailant referees call will come in handy.
I have seen Azahar referee for many years and he is one that is totally neutral. Many past referees will concur on this fact.
ACS I were the favorites and they rightly won. Credit is given to St Andrew’s for putting up a good fight. The players must know the law and apply them. If you infringe them you will be penalize. Repeated infringement means time in the bin.
Good game, good result and good refereeing.
Good end to the C Div season and congratulations to ACS I for winning it.
I think 6000 pairs if eyes will disagree with you. Including current players and current refs. Good refs apply the laws equally. You cannot be blinded by the colour of the jersies. Or the fact that about 15 blatant driving over the ball is somehow left to his blindness again .
I too was there when the he literally walked saints from the halfway line to acs try line in the b div finals! Remember that one??! There is obviously a pattern here.
I vote to ban him from future ac games. He can be neutral in other games.
Adrian, I am afraid you are far off the mark here. The data does not lie. You are entitled to your opinion but not to facts. I watched this team demolish all their opponents (including sadly -Raffles , ACS Barker and Saints) in all their rounds. Saints did not suddenly play better. (they did tackle well). The difference is Azahar. Go figure. Based on what was seen- the tries saved by the ref’s whistle would be around 50 points. That is a clearly picture between a superior team in a different league to the rest of the field.
Open Letter to the Ref (i hope he gets to read this)
Dear Ref,
It is amazing how one person can change the game. How you still manage to still remain the main official in a gentlemen’s game with your most ungracious sportsmanlike behavior. You are a disgrace to the sport. You are a disgrace to SRU.
Am I too harsh? 50 penalties vs 5. 7 penalties awarded close to the Saints Try Line. Numerous “unseen” offenses by the Saints line. 100 calls for knock-ons when the ball was NOT even in the hands of an AC Player. YOU SIR gave the Saints hope when it could have been MERCY by half time. When you sent off the AC player- it was literally 16 players vs 14 . YOu Sir deserve a Saints Jersey.
I hope you are proud of what you have done. The real heroes today are the brave and gallant Saints whom in their hearts , and their minds know that they are up against the Juggernaut. Still they fight. Your cowardice did their defeat NO GLORY. It is the travesty of the highest nature to deny the many hours of sacrifices both teams have put in. You Sir, robbed them of those sacrifices. You deny Saints the honourable defeat- better to die on their feet then to live on their knees. You do not deserve to referee another game.
I know you know that I am right.