Story by Chan Hui Mui. Pictures by Marvin Lowe.
SAJC GK Dawn clashes with ACJC GS Natalie Long. (Photo 1 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Hougang Sports Hall, Wednesday, May 13, 2009 – Classic lobs to Natalie Long remained unanswered and that sent Anglo-Chinese Junior College to the A Division Netball Championship final for the second consecutive year as they thrashed St Andrew’s Junior College 73-35 in a semi-final match.
ACJC’s victory was never in doubt from the opening whistle, and took a confidence-boosting 6-2 lead early on. The Saints tried to break through the ACJC defence but poor footwork did not help their cause. Inaccurate shooting made it worse for them, as ACJC entered the second quarter with a comfortable 20-10 lead.
In the second quarter, ACJC stepped up their attacks after a harsh scolding from their coach. No one dared to send the balls in to their goal circle slower than the expected speed from ACJC coach. The Saints could not find a solution to ACJC’s swift attacking play, leaving them helpless as ACJC piled up the score to 36-19 to end the quarter.
Despite holding a convincing 17-point lead, ACJC did not dare let their guard down in the third quarter. Any hesitation shown on court would be rewarded with an earful from their coach.
On the other hand, the Saints goal circle was desolate. The first ball sent into the Saints goal circle was only after ACJC had scored their 10th consecutive goal.
While everyone thought that the Saints would be packing in, the goal spurred them on instead to work harder than ever to send balls in to their goal circle. The Saints finally found a way to counter the ACJC defence, and scored the remaining 8 goals of the quarter. They interrupted the ACJC attack as well, limiting them to only 9 goals in the remainder of the quarter.
Despite entering the fourth quarter knowing that the ACJC tally was double theirs, 56-28, the Saints continued to impress the crowd with their fighting spirit. They were on par with ACJC for the first few minutes of the quarter, but the speedy ACJC team was unstoppable and they eventually won the game 73-35.
ACJC will meet their arch-rivals Raffles Institution in the final once again.
ACJC GD Weiru makes a defensive interception. (Photo 2 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
ACJC WA Rachel Thong puts her hands up to defend. (Photo 3 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
ACJC GK Beverly Shaddick puts her hand up to block. (Photo 4 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
ACJC WD Tessa Tan jumps to challenge for the ball. (Photo 5 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
SAJC WD Koh Lijie challenging ACJC C Nashita for the ball. (Photo 6 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
ACJC GK Natalie Long out jumps the SAJC defenders for the ball. (Photo 7 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
SAJC WD Lijie jumping to try stop ACJC C Nashita from getting the ball. (Photo 8 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
ACJC GA Deborah hangs onto a pass thrown forward to her. (Photo 9 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
SAJC GK Dawn puts her hand up to block the ACJC GS Natalie. (Photo 10 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
ACJC GD Weiru puts a hand in to knock the ball away. (Photo 11 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
ACJC GA Deborah stretching to reach for the ball. (Photo 12 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
ACJC GK Beverly puts a hand in to challenge SAJC GS Xin Yee for the ball. (Photo 13 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
SAJC GD jumps and puts her hand in to try knock the ball away from ACJC GS Natalie. (Photo 14 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
SAJC GD Dawn jumping in to challenge for the ball. (Photo 15 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
The SAJC GS waiting to receive the pass. (Photo 16 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
The SAJC GD Dawn jumping in to challenge ACJC GA Deborah. (Photo 17 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
ACJC GD Weiru trying to block the SAJC GS. (Photo 18 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
ACJC GK Beverly challenging the SAJC GS for a rebound . (Photo 19 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
ACJC GA Deborah hangs onto a pass. (Photo 20 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
“She ain’t heavy, she’s my student.” The SAJC teacher carries her injured student. (Photo 21 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
the umpire for the game advanced two balls into the D right under the pole. well done.
Photo 10 it’s GA Deborah who’s shooting, not Natalie
in picture 1, the GK isn’t dawn, it’s li jie
in picture 8, WD it’s lynn, not li jie
photo 10, GK is not dawn, it’s li jie
photo 13, GS is not xin yee, it’s marjorie
photo 14, GD it’s dawn
photo 16, 18, 19, GS it’s xin yi
the last picture photo 21, isn’t a sajc teacher carrying her..it’s the physio..
This is the only time when I agree with Lee Bee Wah about results ….:) It feels good to hear that the Saints, although a less experienced team, had showed FIGHTING SPIRIT ! That’s the way, it is for us Saints – unyielding Fighting Spirit. – Saints Old Boys Rugger.