ACS (Independent) claim C Division water polo championship title with win over Hwa Chong Institution

Story by Koh Yizhe/Red Sports. Pictures by Lai Jun Wei.

CCAB, Friday, April 3, 2009 – The Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) won the C Division Water Polo Championship Gold medal playoff with a 10-5 victory over Hwa Chong Institution.

It wasn’t all easy going for ACS(I) as they had to constantly come from behind. With the first two quarters ending level, the ACS(I) pressure eventually paid off as they pulled away in the third and fourth quarter with Bryan Ong and Daryl Ho making an impact with a combined seven goals throughout the match.

ACS(I) took the game to HCI early on with a shot by Sean Koh (#4), but it went to waste. ACS(I) then continued to lay siege on HCI's goal with another effort by Bryan Ong (#11).

However, it was HCI who took the lead against the run of play with Captain Adriel Lim (#9) sneaking the ball in. Not to be outdone, ASC(I) continued their unrelenting attack on the HCI goal and were rewarded just before the break when Bryan Ong (ACS, #11) scored his first. Toh Zi Kit (#13) also managed to threaten the HCI goal with a shot just before the break but he couldn’t score and so both teams finished 1-1 at the end of the first quarter.

Much of the same followed in the second quarter with both teams quickly scoring one goal each to make it 2-2. Edward Chow (HCI, #8) then gave his side the lead again at 3-2 while Kua Jun Ji (ACS, #12) saw a shot saved by the HCI keeper at the other end.

But the lead didn't last long as Kua Jun Ji (ACS(I), #12) harassed the keeper, causing him to slip and Jun Ji capitalized on the error to draw his team level at 3-3 which is how it remained at half-time.

Both teams came out fighting in the third and HCI drew first blood with Edward Chow (#8) scoring at the 5.09 minute mark. That was, however, the last time HCI would take the lead and it barely last more than 20 seconds as Bryan Ong (#11) of ACS (I) drew level once again at 4-4.

He scored his second of the quarter to make the scores 5-4 soon after to give ACS(I) the lead for the first time in the match. As HCI pushed for an equaliser, they left a hole a the back, allowing Dion Tan (ACS, #3) to extend his team's lead further at 6-4.

There was also action at the other end with Edward Chor (HCI, #8) taking a long-range crack at goal, forcing a solid save from the keeper.

Holding a 6-4 lead going into the final quarter, ACS(I) looked comfortable as they extended their lead with Daryl Ho (#8) scoring two quick goals. Captain Ooi Yee Jia (#10) also got in on the action with a long-range shot sneaking in to score his team's ninth goal. Daryl rounded up things up, making it a perfect ten for ACS(I).

Reyrold Tan scored the consolation for HCI late in the fourth through a penalty.

"I feel really good about being top scorer of the match!" commented Bryan Ong of ACS(I), who led the scoring with four goals. "I would like to thank the team for their effort throughout the past year."

"We are really happy and honoured to be the C Division Champions! We didn't really expect it as we came into the with a 50-50 chance of winning. It didn't look good as well when it was a draw in the first half, but we are glad to have won it!" said the ACS(I) team.

Quarter by Quarter Scores
1st Q: ACS (I) 1 HCI 1
2nd Q: ACS (I) 2 HCI 2
3rd Q: ACS (I) 3 HCI 1
4th Q: ACS (I) 4 HCI 1

Top Scorers
Bryan Ong (ACS (I), #11) - 4 goals
Daryl Ho (ACS (I), #8) - 3 goals
Edward Chow (HCI, #2) - 2 goals

More pictures in the gallery.