Story by REDintern Alethia Tiang. Pictures by Marvin Lowe.
RI GK Cheryl Lee leaps in to block ACJC GS Natalie Long from shooting. (Photo 1 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Bedok Sports Hall, Friday, May 15, 2009 - Last year's runners-up, Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC), made a triumphant comeback to claim the championship title from defending champions Raffles Institution in the A Division Netball Championship final.
Having lost to Raffles by a close 50-51 margin in last year’s final, ACJC tasted sweet victory with a 61-48 win this year.
Both teams were equally matched in the first quarter. ACJC played with agility, pressuring a Raffles side that handled the pressure with good defense.
ACJC soon gained the lead by converting almost 100% of their shots at the net to pull away from Raffles to lead 14-9 at the end of the first quarter.
The ACJC players began to be slightly complacent in the second quarter to give Raffles the opportunity to rack up more points. Both teams put in 15 points each in the half and ACJC led by 29-24 at the half-time break.
Raffles started to show signs of uncertainty as they missed many opportunities to get their points. On the defensive end, Raffles GK Cheryl Lee constantly tussled for the ball against ACJC’s GS Natalie to prevent her from scoring.
ACJC were undaunted by Raffles' aggression and managed to keep a cool head to build a 12-point lead as supporters from both teams made their presence felt.
In the final quarter, Raffles scored the first point but the rest of the quarter was ACJC who pulled further ahead to a 15-point lead and eventual victory.
ACJC captain Deborah Rowe (GA), vice-captain Koh Wei Ru (GD) and team member Natalie Long (GS) were so overwhelmed with emotions that they were unable to express their jubilation.
"No words can describe what we are feeling right now. We really wanted this very much, especially after last year's painful defeat to Raffles by one point."
All of them featured in the close encounter last year against Raffles.
They were still unable to believe their victory as they recalled their journey to the final.
"We had a lot of ups and downs, tough trainings, long runs. At the start of our campaign, we had a few bad games and our coach was very angry with us. But slowly, we started picking up and we cannot believe it that we have won now!"
The disappointment of Raffles was evident as they shed tears on the court. However, the team displayed true team unity, team spirit and sportsmanship in their game with ACJC and deserve to be commended for their determination.
Brenda Xie (WA), Captain of the Raffles team, said, "They were the better team, but we gave our all. We're proud of ourselves."
This year's National A Division Netball Championship also saw Hwa Chong Institution finish in third and St. Andrews Junior College in fourth.
ACJC WA Rachel Thong hangs on to a difficult pass. (Photo 2 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
RI GA Xinyi catches a pass. (Photo 3 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
RI GK Cheryl Lee demonstrates her unique leaping abilities with this jump block on ACJC GS Natalie Long. (Photo 4 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
RI GK Cheryl tries to knock the ball out of ACJC GS Natalie’s hands. (Photo 5 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
ACJC WA Rachel Thong hangs on to a pass. (Photo 6 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
RI WA Brenda gets her hand to intercept the ball from ACJC WD Tatyana. (Photo 7 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
RI GK Cheryl tries to knock the ball away from ACJC GS Natalie. (Photo 8 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
RI GK Cheryl Lee gets her hand to the ball held by ACJC GS Natalie Long who clashes into team mate Rachel Thong. (Photo 9 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
ACJC WD Tatyana hangs on to a pass. (Photo 10 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
RI WA Brenda Xie clashes into ACJC WD Tatyana as they fight for possession of the ball. (Photo 11 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
ACJC GA Deborah jumps to block a pass. (Photo 12 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
RI GK Cheryl clashes with ACJC GS Natalie and Rachel as they fight for the ball. (Photo 13 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
RI WD Nicolette Gan jumps to block ACJC GS Natalie Long. (Photo 14 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
RI WA Brenda Xie fails to hang onto a difficult pass. (Photo 15 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
RI GK Cheryl Lee manages to knock the ball out of ACJC GS Natalie’s hand. (Photo 16 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
ACJC WD Tatyana stretches her hand in an attempt to intercept the ball for RI WA Brenda Xie. (Photo 17 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
RI GK Cheryl Lee challenging ACJC GS Natalie for a rebound. (Photo 18 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
ACJC GK Beverly Shaddick challenging RI GS Christina for the ball. (Photo 19 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
ACJC GS Natalie Long out-jumps RI GK Cheryl Lee to catch the ball. (Photo 20 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
ACJC GK Beverly Shaddick tries to knock the ball out of RI GS Christina’s hand. (Photo 21 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
RI GK Cheryl Lee trying to block ACJC GS Natalie Long. (Photo 22 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
ACJC C Nashita puts her hand in to knock the ball away from RI C Suhaila. (Photo 23 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
RI GK Cheryl Lee and ACJC GS Natalie tussling for a rebound. (Photo 24 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
RI GD Nicolette Gan jumps to block ACJC GA Deborah from shooting. (Photo 25 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
ACJC Captain Deborah Rowe and Goalshooter Natalie Long in an emotional embrace at the end of the game. (Photo 26 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
please do not bring your stereotypes here to gripe about them. in the first place, singapore is made up of chinese, malay, indian and OTHERS (which includes ‘ang mohs’). it’s not just made up of chinese, malay and indian. so there’s nothing wrong with acjc having an “ang moh”.
plus, netball is a team sport. not an individual one. the fact that there’s a 19-year old does not give acjc the added edge.
you’re not showing pride to your school with such derogatory and insulting comments. it only shows your close-mindedness and immaturity.
well done to both sch. anw cheryl lee seems hot.
HAIL AC!! good job RI! you guys have got grace man
wth is wrong with having an angmoh. so what if she’s ang moh. ang mohs aren’t naturally good at everything you know they have to work hard like everyone else(which is what i feel you’re insinuating, that angmohs give an edge.)…simon youre just a total loser who has inferiority complex. ac lost to ri last year and they worked as hard as HELL to win this year. don’t just attribute their success to having a 19 year old and an angmoh*which is so friggin derogatory* and yea it’s called U20 for a reason.GOOD JOB ACJC YOU DESERVED IT LIKE NO ONE HAS. kudos to RIJC too
this is so retarded.
you win some, you lose some, so just stop arguing.
might as well tell our S.League to remove all those foreign players -_-
What’s wrong with having a Caucasian in the team. Are you publicly expressing your discrimination? It was a game well played by both teams, only that ACJC was the better team this year.
What is wrong with you?
humility isn’t something that many people will have. and don’t be proud of other people’s achievements and claim it to your own glory unless you are part of it. congrats to schools that do well in whatever areas. and of course you can’t take away anything from acjc from winning this netball title. stop being sour
The score’s 61-48. Not 71-68! Pls change it!
Simon, the maximum age allowed in A Division is 20. If RI has a 19year old player then put her in. Don’t be a sore loser and say “I think if RI put 19year old they also win..”. RI lost, that’s a fact, don’t find excuses. There’s a reason why the maximum age is till 20. The Best team wins.
“some more got ang moh”? What reasoning is that!? Pls use your brains before commenting on anything.
Have some sportsmanship, dont be a sore loser, seriously.
“RI GK Cheryl Lee leaps in to block ACJC GK Natalie Long from shooting. (Photo 1 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)”
Typo
EEEE.. 19 year old playing.. some more got ang moh.. i think if RI put 19 year old they also win..
We got first for golf too
wow the netball girls look like they’re dancing … such agility
to sub: the volunteer crew wasn’t free during the 3rd-4th match with other commitments. if you were there, you’re welcome to write about the match. =)
why is there no coverage on the 3rd 4th match?
definitely, sucks to be the best acad/sports school in sg….
seetow: sad u missed out on ur 18th gold or smth, since ri(jc) has first pick in dsa, unlimited resources, brand name, maybe you should try to attain factors like camaraderie, spirit, determination and humility, that go a long way in being a champion team or true sportsman.
this wasnt our first gold, our girl bowlers won you by one if im not wrong.
ACNETBALL ALL THE WAY
well done acjc, great match and an amazing spectacle. congrats on winning your first gold of the year! crap i think we missed out on like our 18th gold or smth… ):
I think the score was 61-48 not 78-61… and photo 5 there’s a minor error there, Natalie is ACJC GS not RI GS