Raffles Institution girls claim inaugural A Division water polo championship

By Marvin Lowe

CCAB, Monday, April 13, 2009 – Raffles Institution won the inaugural A Division Girls Water Polo Championship after beating Saint Andrew's Junior College 4-2 in a tense encounter.

Right from the start, both teams went at each other with all they had. However Raffles took the early lead. Melissa Ooi from Raffles broke free down the flanks before cutting in goalwards. Out-pacing her marker, she took a quick shot at goal and scored.

Further Raffles pressure saw Isis Lim break free once more and was presented with a one-on-one chance but the Saints goalkeeper anticpated the shot and made a brilliant save.

Raffles were able to prevail and take the lead because of their strong defense. Dew Low was the main player marshalling the defensive zone, often quickly snuffing out the Saints offense. She was also a crucial player in the Raffles offensive plans, functioning like a point guard, distributing passes to players in space.

Raffles doubled their lead when Isis Lim scored mid way through the second quarter and they led 2-0 at the half-time break.

In the third quarter, Dyan Lai, vice-captain of the Saints boldly took a powerful looping shot which surprised the entire Raffles team, including the goalkeeper, to score a magnificent long-range goal.

This stunned the Raffles team but it didn't take long for them to strike back and restore their two-goal cushion through their captain Suzanne Teo.

Saints captain Olivia Low had an opportunity to score on a breakaway one-on-one situation but the Raffles keeper made a save to deal the Saints a blow. Despite the miss, the Saints pressed on and this time Dyan scored again to cut the Raffles lead down to one at 2-3.

The Saints were now within striking distance and Raffles had to contend with the long range capabilities of Dyan. They shut her down with tight marking, not allowing her to shoot as freely.

Against the run of play, Raffles added one more goal midway in the final quarter through Melanie Sasha Wong. With the two-goal cushion restored, the Raffles team defended their lead stoutly to emerge champions eventually.

Raffles coach Gary Ortega was extremely proud of his girls’ achievements.

“This is the first official Water Polo competition for the girls, it is great that they are the first to win it. We played according to plan and did not let them exploit our weakness at all. I am very happy with their performance.”