Update by reader

RI vs HCI water polo

A Hwa Chong Institution player in action during a previous game against Saints.

ACS(I), Wednesday, March 21, 2007 – The scorching sun shone down and reflected off the calm blue water of the swimming pool, birds chirping in the distance. Nothing hinted of the drama that was to unfold early that afternoon in the B Division national inter school water polo preliminaries, where Raffles Institution was about to take on arch-rivals Hwa Chong Institution in what was to prove a highly entertaining and superbly fought battle between two technically skilled teams. Facing off early in their bid to reach the final, the sight of the two traditional giants in water polo facing off this early in their bid to reach the finals promised a mouth watering clash that would overshadow anything else the afternoon would have to offer.

Raffles Institution were decked out in their navy blue caps while the Hwa Chong boys donned their specklessly white caps for the occasion. Both teams were raring to go from the start, psyching each other up even before the start, with different cheers from each team resounding around the otherwise deafeningly silent ACS(I) pool.

The game started with RI winning the swim for the ball, launching into an immediate attack but yet almost immediately losing the ball with a poor pass. The game started slowly at the start until HCI grabbed the lead with a superbly taken goal from their no.4 player Benjamin with an delicate chip over the flailing RI keeper from close range. RI soon equalised through their no. 11 winger Koh Jian Ying who capitalised on an error by his marker to coolly finish past the keeper. The see-saw first quarter eventually concluded 3-2 in HCI’s favour, with RI seemingly not being able to settle into their stride.

Straight off the blocks in the second quarter, RI dominated with 3 goals, and HCI could not muster a single in reply. This was due to RI’s organised and disciplined defensive play, and several good saves from the RI keeper Seetow to keep HCI quiet in the second quarter. The finest move of the match was executed in this quarter, with RI captain no. 7 Brandon Chong winning the swim up for the ball before playing a one-two with his teammate and eventually earning a penalty.

 The third quarter was again dominated by RI as they raced to a 4 goal lead at one period of time, with the RI keeper again in top form to deny the HCI shooters any chance at coming back into the match. However, towards the end of the third quarter and into the fourth quarter, HCI eventually managed to get their act together, showed great resilience and fighting spirit, eventually beating the resolute RI defence with most of the goals coming from their no.2 winger and sharp shooter Yip Yang.

There was a moment of drama in the 4th quarter, when the RI keeper was forced out with a severe cramp and had to be replaced, which drew an excited response from the HCI players, who sensed an opportunity to capitalise on the void that had been left by the superb RI keeper. However, to their dismay, he was back barely a minute later. However, he was unable to conjure up his best and relied on a superb defensive act by his defenders to preserve the lead and hold on for a heroic 8-6 win. RI’s no. 7 driver Brandon Chong inevitably stood out during this period for his drive and determination and preserving that slender lead amid a fury of attacks launched by the HCI players and made several crucial blocks to deny HCI the goals they sought and needed.