ACS (Barker) retain B Division Water Polo Championship with victory over ACS(I)

Story By Koh Yizhe/Red Sports. Pictures By Vanessa Lim and Marvin Lowe.

CCAB, Monday, April 6, 2009 – It took a goal from Melvin Fang 2.14 minutes from time for Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) to retain their B Division Water Polo Championship with a heart-stopping 4-3 victory over Anglo-Chinese School (Independent). Two goals each from Teo Zhien Wei and Melvin Fang were enough to secure the gold medal.

Although ACS (Barker) led most of the match, ACS(I) were always quick to equalise, making their more experienced opponents nervous. Even up till midway through the final quarter, both teams were on level terms at 3-3.

"They ACS(I) are a younger team with secondary threes while most of our players are secondary four. They have good potential as they are a great team and even with the advantage of an extra year of experience, we are lucky to have held them off," commented Captain Rishi Shankar Pandey about ACS(I).

After a one and a half hour rain-delay, both teams got started and were settled immediately as they fought to gain an early lead. ACS (Barker) showed their intentions early on with captain Rishi Shankar Pandey (#10) going close with a chip shot.

With barely one minute on the clock, ACS(I) were hit with a major blow when Benjamin Lee (#13) suffered a cut above his left eye which required attention. He had to be substituted and played no further part in the quarter.

But that did not change the pace of the game, with both keepers kept busy. Issac Chan (ACS(I), #6) tested keeper Cedric Lim (ACS (Barker), #1) and at the other end Melvin Fong (ACS (Barker), #11) did the same. ACS (Barker) came close again when goal keeper Teo Wei Yang (ACS(I), #1) was called to sweep the ball off the line after a shot rattled off the bar.

It looked like the first quarter would end goalless after John Tan (ACS(I), #8) sent a shot over the bar at the 1.25 minute mark. However, Melvin Fang (ACS (Barker), # 11) had other ideas as he gave his side the lead soon after, allowing his team to take a slim 1-0 lead into the first interval.

ACS(I) came back fighting in the second quarter when they equalised with their first attack. Lim Churn Yi (ACS(I), #9) finished off some good passing around the opponent's goal with an unstoppable shot.

The score didn't remain level for long as Teo Zhien Wei (ACS (Barker), #8) gave his side the lead again at the 4.13 minute mark with a long range shot that flew past the keeper.

Although they were trailing, ACS(I) continued to attack their opponent's goal with Gerald Sim (ACS(I), #12) seeing his shot fly past the post. At the 1.20 minute mark, Issac Chan (ACS(I), #6) equalised again for his team after he caught the defense sleeping. The ball was slipped to him right in front of the ACS (Barker) goal and it was the easiest of task to push the ball beyond the onrushing keeper.

Once again, the teams were level again, this time at 2-2, when the half-time whistle blew.

The third quarter was slower as the game began to get physical with both teams committing fouls while they attacked. The only action of the quarter came courtesy of Teo Zhien Wei (ACS (Barker), #8) when he scored with a shot from distance 17 seconds from time, giving his side the lead for the third time at 3-2.

Lim Fang Yan (ACS (Barker), #4) also saw a shot from the middle of the pool saved with one second on the clock. The resulting corner came to nothing as ACS (Barker) ended the third quarter with the slight edge at 3-2.

ACS(I) pushed for the equaliser and were rewarded when Jeremy Yeo (#2) stole the ball in the middle of the pool. He drove to the goal and was unmarked as he sent the ball past the keeper with 3.50 remaining on the clock.

Fourth time proved to be the charm for the defending champions in the fourth quarter as Melvin Fang found an open goal after the ball was rebounded to him following a save from the right.

The ACS(I) coach called for a timeout with 30 seconds on the clock but it did little as ACS (Barker) held on for the win.

"It feels great, especially after winning three straight gold medals. I don't think any other team has done that in the past so we have made history today. We have trained hard all year and we were hoping it would be easier but ACS(I) pressured us throughout the match. It is great that we finally hung on for the win," said ACS (Barker) captain Rishi Shankar Pandey after the match.