By Les Tan/Red Sports. Photos by Vanessa Lim and Marvin Lowe/Red Sports
Ng Chun Long of ACS(I) goes over for what turns out to be the winning try in the 8-7 victory. (Photo 1 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Old Police Academy, Monday, April 12, 2010 – Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) eked out a hard-fought 8-7 victory over St Andrew’s Secondary to wrestle back the B Division Rugby Championship title they lost last year.
A James Morgan (ACS(I) #8) penalty gave the Dover Road school a 3-0 lead nine minutes into the game as a usually fluid ACS(I) team struggled to find their rhythm against their first serious opposition in the championship.
A late hit by Khor Jia Jun (SA #8) elicited a collective “Aaaah!!” from the crowd and it was no surprise when referee Harry Mason pulled out the yellow to flash it at the Saints forward to leave the boys in blue and white with only 14 men on the field.
With the man advantage, ACS(I) threatened and came close to scoring their first try of the game. James Morgan had another penalty opportunity but this time he put the ball to the right of the posts.
The Saints #14 tried to run it out but soon got his team into all sorts of trouble as he fumbled the ball, allowing ACS(I) to recover it. However, ACS(I) could not press home the advantage just a metre from the try line and a penalty call against them ended that drive.
A long punt upfield by the Saints was dropped by the ACS(I) fullback Samuel Teo, giving the initiative back to the Saints from a good field position. A period of sustained St Andrew’s pressure soon followed and although they had a chance to kick a penalty, the Saints opted to kick it out to touch. From the ensuing play, the Saints had another penalty but their attacking momentum was doused by a timely Morgan tackle on the Saints ball carrier.
The ACS(I) supporters thought their team was off the hook but Saints came back again, and this time with a try. The referee called ACS(I) on a scrum infringement and from the free-kick, the Saints forward brought the ball forward before Bryan Chong (SA #5) outran the ACS(I) line to score the first try, the first points ACS(I) conceded in the entire championship.
Naresh (SA #11) kicked a successful conversion from wide out to give the Saints a 7-3 lead. This was a huge psychological lift for the defending champions, coming as it did just before the half-time whistle and with a man down.
Buoyed by their lead, the Saints had the first significant attack in the second half when a handling error by ACS(I) gave Saints hope of a second try but Khor Jia Jun (SA #8) fumbled.
A flowing ACS(I) move down the right ended with the ACS(I) winger falling into a crowd of Saints supporters. Some unpleasantness between the players and fans forced the referees to stop the game for a good few minutes as they had to move the supporters back a safe enough distance before they were happy enough to allow the game to go on.
ACS(I) finally got the winning try in the 49th minute. From a scrum in the Saints’ half, James Morgan (ACS #8) brought the ball left. He held off a tackler and passed it out to a teammate who offloaded to scrumhalf Ng Chun Lung who went over for an 8-7 ACS(I) lead.
The drama did not end there.
Both sets of supporters then held their collective breath when St Andrew’s had the perfect opportunity to grab the lead back with a penalty right in front of the goalposts. As a hush descended on the pitch, David Daniel (SA #11) ran up to take the kick but he scythed the ball way wide of the right post, leaving the Saints in agony. ACS(I) were let off the hook.
But the was still enough time for one final St Andrew’s assault. A series of drives saw the Saints get to within a metre of the try line but the ACS(I) line held. That would prove the closest the Saints would come to turning the game around and the final whistle called time on an absorbing contest between the two best B Division rugby school teams in Singapore.
ACS(I) head coach Adrian Chong was proud of his boys.
“I would say the boys played the best game of the whole season. They were very controlled. They did exactly what we planned for. We worked very hard at catching all the kicks and kicking it back and I think that made a difference. They were trying to exploit all the kicks at us. I think our back three did fantastically well today,” said coach Adrian.
“I feel for the first time in the whole season, they really played like a team that believed that they can win. It was real character to see them fight back and hold until the last play. So I think they showed champions credentials for doing that,” added coach Adrian.
Immediately after the final whistle, a scuffle broke out between the players, causing some supporters to rush onto the field. Cooler, mature and older heads from both the ACS(I) and St Andrew’s side pulled the two sides apart and it was all over as quickly as it started.
Shafiq Zulazmi, a National University of Singapore undergraduate and rugby player, saw the incident unfold and intervened.
“Upon seeing the punch by the Saints player, the ACS old boys rushed onto the field to prevent any further harm on the ACS boy and to prevent the melee from developing into a free for all,” said Shafiq.
“Such an act does not belong on the rugby field. Hooligan behaviour from the young lad. I think it raises the issue of whether schools are teaching their boys just about the many facets of sport – winning, losing, respecting your opponent – or just about winning, failing which one resorts to punching or other forms of thuggery. I was involved in school sports for six years from 1998 to 2003 and had never seen such scenes during that period,” said Shafiq.
In 2006, in a game between ACS(I) and St Joseph’s Institution, an ACS(I) rugger bit an SJI opponent. The ACS(I) player was subsequently banned from the rest of the championship.
The win gives ACS(I) their 10th B Division title while St Andrew’s have 18 B titles to their name since the championship started in 1971.
Since 1997, the B Division championship has been won by either ACS(I) or St Andrew’s.
N.B. A partial story was first posted Monday, April 12, 2010 and now re-posted with full story and photos.
Naresh of St Andrew’s in a desperate attempt to stop Ng Chun Long of ACS(I) … (Photo 2 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
… Chun Long’s forward momentum is too great … (Photo 3 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
… and he goes over for the winning try. (Photo 4 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Chun Long’s teammate rushes in to celebrate while the St Andrew’s supporters in the background are dismayed. (Photo 5 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
An ACS(I) player get dumped into the Saints’ spectator section. The unpleasant scenes that ensued forced the referees to stop the game for a few minutes to force the crowd to move further back. (Photo 6 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
A Saints player tackles an ACS(I) opponent. (Photo 7 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Go to next page for more photos
if acsi boys did not jump into the fracas, it wouldn’t be a fight right? It would just be a bashing from sa.
10 yrs ago, it was the same…acsi get bashed by sa…looks like momma’s boys need to MAN up…dun start shit that u cannot finish…
They won us in rubgy but we won them in fighting!!RIGHT GUYS!!??
u are so stupid. i am from SAS but u should not forget what u’ve learnt in school during yr CME lessons
I cant believe, A Saint is proud of winning fights. What exactly have ur school taught you?
Children, children, stop fighting. In the end, it was a good match. Both sides had a part to play in the conflict that followed. I was there and I know.
However, we cannot escape the fact that Leonard Wee was assaulted FIRST. ACS didn’t do any taunting or teasing before that. After Leonard got hit, all hell broke loose- ACS is guilty of retaliating as well.
But most of all, I don’t see why on earth the SA guys had to go and smack some kid at the bus stop. I was there as well, and the kid they punched was some small sec 3 boy who probably had no experience in sports whatsoever. When another guy came to his defence, the SA boy whacked him as well. Now THAT’S unnecessary, stupid, and unjustified.
You know, if both sides had just shook hands, apologized, so on, this whole pile of shit wouldn’t have happened. ._.
agreed.
sorry to say, Leonard Wee started taunting first.
really? you’re one of those on the pitch?
what has this got to do with the small sec 3 boy?
anyway, did anyone even know that some of the SA boys helped the two kids into the building…
comments from STRAITS TIMES website:
I have not watched a schools rugby match for many years.
In the good old days, the intense rivalry meant that any schools match between the big teams like St Andrews’s, ACS, RI and St Joseph’s were always full-blooded and full-bloodied affairs.
Scuffles on the field on the field and scuffles off the field between supporters were fairly common and plainclothes policemen were usually on standby in case things got really out of control.
Whatever it was, no matter how many punches were thrown and flying kicks were executed between players or between supporters, after the match all was forgotten until the next year.
All was part and parcel of the game but nowadays things seems to have changed, parents are upset, fingers are pointed and police reports are made all because of some punches and flying kicks and some blood.
Schools rugby a rough and rugged sports no more?
Do you guys have to go so far to take it out on random people walking around at the bus stop? Tell your students and friends that if they wish to hit someone, try hitting someone their own size, not a boy 20cm shorter than you.
I am not 20 cm shorter, probably 9…
leonard deserved to get punched.
and for all acs losers out there who complained that they got punch or spat on, why bother joining the fight in the first place, let alone coming near it. undeserving winners. high iq but low eq?
tsktsk.
they didn’t complain, idiot. Seriously, try to find out a little more information about the situation before coming out here and getting your ass kicked.
1) Their PARENTS complained. It’s kinda hard to conceal a broken nose and bloody teeth from your dad and mom, FYI.
2) The people who got beat up, I reiterate, were NOT rugby players. They were spectators who were small in size and build, and did not do anything- that means no taunting, they were just sitting at the bus stop minding their own business- and did not JOIN the fight.
3) Come near the fight? LOL? Only retards like you would do that, I think. Your SA friend came up to him and punched him in the face.
If you continue like this, I think you’re going to get owned, dude. Be a little more careful next time:)
wait till you ask the people who were at the bus stop as witnesses. what would u say then
I AM NOT SHORT OR SMALL IN BUILD!!!!!!!
Ok, i suck at physical activity, but i am not small in build…
and the witnesses at the bus stop saw a either sec 4, JC, Uni or alummni member punch two sec 3s in the nose…
LOSER, I AM A WITNESS AT THE BUS STOP.
I was at the bus stop when the incident happened, a tall chinese man with black hair dyed blonde, a green t shirt and blue jeans punched a passing ACS boy in the face, knocking him over. This man then proceeded to spit on the boy. A second boy, who quickly helped the first up, was subsequently slapped twice, and when he asked who the man was, and what right he had to hit them, he was punched in the nose, with the man declaring he was from SA. However, before you claim i am biased, i noticed that some of the SA boys helped the two ACS boys back to the academy
“there, a witness report”
That’s good, SA students can’t be all rotten. I have friends from there and they’re decent. It’s just sad some people are out here screwing up Saint Andrew’s name..
anyway, the man who punched me wasn’t wearing uniform, he could be some guy who just hates acs…
It’s is sad to see SA boys and supporters suggesting that punching and fighting are justified. ‘Leonard deserved to get punched’, ‘ACS(I) deserved it because they have no sportsmanship’, ‘ACS(I) players provote’, ‘ACS(I)and RI are snobbish and are elite schools, while SA looks after their students’, ‘SA ruggers do not punch for no reasons’, ‘ACS(I) are ungraceful winners’,’ACS(I) started it’, etc. Further suggesting and alleging that ACS supporters went in to fight(instead of going in to defend or prevent the fight) is also a lame attempt to justify the fight SA player(s) started. Suggesting, instead of being able to show photo(s)of ACS(I) stamping and fighting, is another unsubstantiated allegation. Any fair and reasonable minded readers of this forum would see that SA boys and their supporters are trying to ‘throw bricks’ in defence of their wrong. This makes them even more pathetic. Did SA teach their students to glorifying and justifying punching and fighting? Why make unsubstantiated allegations and claims to defend your wrong? Admit it, and take it as a gentleman.
WHO CARES WHO WON!!!!! Somebody punched a two innocent bystanders in the noses, boys of both schools helped, and does anyone care, NO!
Never considered St Andrews to be anything more than a school with a GLORIFID PAST. These days, the demeanour and behaviour of the school’s products (both BOYS AND GIRLS) can EASILY BE OBserved around Potong Pasir. The public can make its own judgement. Like my comrades ORA88, I truly feel any competition between my alma mattar and ACS would be stuff of legends while anything with the Saints, who can remember…….
AuspiciumMeliorisAevi
well said…no wonder I have many RI friends who play and game and still contunie to do so on a regular basis 🙂
if you want to keep this argument within the context of acs i and sas and the violence that plagued the aftermath, then stay it with it. if not, to bring the girls into the picture you are directly insuniating and insulting the other schools of the st andrew’s family. acsi students have come from sajs as well so before you continue your tirage on “boys and girls” from potong pasir, check your facts and the group you’re stereotyping.
and secondly, it’s true that sas isn’t as in your words, “glorified” as it was in the past. we haven’t done very well in results – partially cuz we take in every single student from sajs regardless of their psle score or their family background. but i think it’s fair to say that for a school like acsi, places in the school can be easily bought with money. i don’t think you can disagree with that. majority of people from sas don’t come from very well-to-do family for various reasons. how they were brought up is reasons pertaining to their own self. you have no right to criticise them and more so, the BOYS AND GIRLS in Potong Pasir. the image that you portray is probably one which is different from these people whom you stereotype. one which is pleasant but unfortunately disguised by the disgusting and condescending view on people that you have on not as well-to-do or people as refined as you.
just a piece of advice. take a look at your demeanour and your behaviour instead. it’s people like you that continue to degrade and sterotype all the students in your school.
i played against acsi on numerous occasions…and i definitely believe that there were certainly provocations on behalf of acsi,sa ruggers are not hooligans and punch people for no reason…but that is not to say punching is the right thing to do… these things happen in rugby…(along with biting an ear and stomping). but all i want to say is that, really good ac ruggers dont taunt and provoke after winning, and good sa ruggers never get violent in defeat,vice versa 🙂
The front page of Straits Times did a great job in capturing the culprits of the fight. You can see No. 3 Daniel Tan of Saints beating up the ACS boy on the right side of the picture. You can also see No. 13 Jonathan Loo (Captain of Saints) giving a flying kick to a spectator who was trying to stop the fight. Enough said!
Have you considered the fact that AC students were also involved in the fight and they too had a part to play. The photographer is an old AC boy by the way. You decide.
good joke. why would he kick our own people.
your comment is hilarious and without any basis, can’t he be just struggling to break free from the person pulling his shirt? u can’t judge much based on a picture.
YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING A NATIONAL GOLD IS NOWW……. 0! YOU ARE THE LOSERS. PUNCH US FOR WHAT. WHAT WILL IT GIVE YOU. DO YOU THINK YOU STAND A CHANCE OF WINNING.
ur provoked the fight,and caused the outrage
Let’s face it, WHAT HAVE SAINT ANDREWS ACHIEVED THUS FAR. NO SPORTMANSHIP, NO ACADEMIA. REALLY NOTHING! Glory days were HALF A CENTURY AGO!! Footballing terms the Saints would best be categorised under the same group as Blackpool, Notts County, Bristol City etc. Although ACS (independent) always gives us a good fight, it was always with RESPECT! ABSOLUTE DISGRACE!!!
What we have achieved is 2nd placing in this year’s B div rugby finals. and this disgrace was shared between both schools, it takes 2 hands to clap
hahahaha. shame on yourself.
St Andrew’s serve the community, we take in poor kids, academic poor kids to nurture them to the best of our abilities? ask yourself, does ACS or Raffles does that? you only take in rich kids, academic well kids and kids who can help your school win national titles. what about serving those at the lower end of the society?
perhaps saints should take part in the same league as chao yang then based on that argument.
I admit the Saint were wrong to have reacted to the uncalled provokes from the AC side. But why must the AC rugby team be such ungracious winners and speak ill of the SA rugby team member’s parents? Morales were low and egos were hurt when the Saints had to surrender the Police cup. But why rub salt into the wounds? Futhermore the photographer of the event is really biased by only potraying the Saints who got violent. It takes two hands to clap no? I find it very hard to believe that there were no photos of the ACians getting their hands dirty. I was right there at the scene and I know what I saw. If SA is going to be accused of uncouth behavior, It’s because AC disgraced themselves with such ungraceful behavior.
Now is the time for Berlinda Charles, as convenor of schools rugby, to ban the SA player who was caught, on national newspaper, stamping on an ACS(I) player.
It’s more than just the no 3 that Berlinda Charles had to discipline. Jonathan Loo is another hooligan. See episode 1 of National Schools Sports channel 122 Starhub TV which featured the SA and AC(Barker) second round game. He wanted the pick a fight with a Sec 3 AC(Barker) boy who tackle him in the game. SA shdn’t play the gentlemen’s game of rugby if they continued to field hooligans as players. Just look at this season. How many illegal fouls had SA committed? Statistics speak the facts. Has the school been too eager to win that they had put sportmanship and game ethics as secondary? Had the game(score 8-7) been played by gentlemen and sportsmen yesterday, both SA and ACS(I) are winners. Sadly, it was not the case…
if acs(i) were “man” they’ll be winners that wont rub it in their opponent’s face. it was wrong for sa to throw the punches but it takes 2 hands to clap, with out that provocation do you think sa would fight back? that shows how much sportsmanship the winners have. and think about it, with all the money you spend on rugby with those coaches and all, a ‘yishun sec’ school beat you several times over the last few years. who gives a rats ass bout your education level if you act like snobs with no sense of sportsmanship.
and since rich snobs like you look down on people who are “uneducated” it was a wake up call you guys seriously deserved.
you fools are the “uneducated” failures of society
Look who’s talking. So much for the preaching of sportsmanship and grace. -.-
I think that it was wrong for the Saints to throw punches… even though i agree that ACS is boastful at times I don’t think we should start provoking each other or this will get into an even bigger mess…
heck man.snobs?failures?funny how u said that ‘winners that wont rub it in their opponent’s face’.cos thats wad u r doing exactly.ur juz a hypocrite,get a life.
So the Saints have nvr been boastful, ungraceful winners, and have nvr taunted against their opponents?
To my opinion,both team did well.Bu actually the Saints were the better team.
The brawl after the final whistle,was a wrong act,but the ACS ruggers first tip of the flame.So most of the SA boys and some of the ACS boys rushed into the field to stop the fight.But who knows,in the crowd,there might be more fighting taking place.
By right,if both teams were precise in their penalty,the score will be 17-14(SA-ACS)Bad weather striked on that match too.You can actually see the effort made by the SA ruggers were to a large extent.They had more possesion in the game.
ACS(I) just won by luck,pure luck.SJI is a good team,but they can’t compete with the top 2 teams in Singapore.They are strong with their Forwards,as for their backs and FB,it would be danger if opponent ruggers cut through the Forwards,equivalent to GG.
The Best Is Yet To Be?You sure?Haha,what a joke.
pure luck my ass. what happened happened. how would you know what if it was fine wether he wouldnt have missed the kick? anything could have happened. dont blame on luck. acs won and thats the end. joke.
Although our boys lost, I am proud of them.
does provocation deserve a punch?well the next time your friends insult you or hurl vulgarities at you,why dont you punch their face?or imagine your parents scolding you?in a way thats provocation as well.why dont you punch them saints?boys from saint andrews?you guys lost.i thought saint andrew is a top school but no,saint andrew is the equivalent of yishun secondary.hooligans everywhere.cant take insults.why cant you guys use the insult as something to motivate u guys to train harder?instead of complaining like a girl?”wow he provoke me,I must punch his face.”saints please,dont be a spoiled kid.After this incident,acsi is obviously the more “educated” people.They use their mouth and saints uses their fists.Only losers who cant speak english uses fist to “defend” themselves. SAINTS admit it,you guys are being a group of losers.be a man.grow up.
saints i see much sportsmanship there! good job!
eh smart aleck. no need to be elitist and diss other schools. btw do u realise how silly u sound? its almost cute ^.^
ACS(I) u guys desereved that punch. Because of your arrogance and your stupidity. you guys put anger into the game instead of playing sportsmanship. so why don’t you guys reflect on yourselves instead of pushing the blame to only one party. It takes two hands to clap. If you guys didn’t point that finger, none of the punches would have happened. Don’t think you guys are in the right. You’re no better. You said your school is educated?? oh come on. Does educated means pointing that finger? Your were the ones who started it. so stop being like sissies and grow up. SA boys are in the wrong too. But remember this in mind. Your were the ones who started it. I’m speaking from a perspective of a stranger.
And what about the guy who was walking to the bus stop and got his nose broken, what about the guy who got spat at, what about me, i got friggin hit in the nose.
HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA! Acsi educated? MY FOOT DUDE! I see so many acs retards in my school. They dont even know whats right and whats wrong. They end up getting bullied. seriously. i wonder who the losers really are. No doubt, Acsi retards are the losers. Not we saints. And you said we are spoilt? I wonder who are the ones going around with their daddies and mummies driving them around. Who are the ones who like to flaunt their wealth. Please think before you speak.
Why even provoke in the first place if your more educated? If you are more ” educated” as stated, wouldn’t it be very obvious that there is no need to provoke a team after you win? You have won , game ended, that’s it, wait for the next year. Is it necessary to bunch up a whole school and call us gangsters? I don’t see the whole school joining in the fight. True , tensions ran high and punches were traded but i still don’t see how we have hooligans everywhere. Well just a point, we can speak english too, we’re as normal as you, it’s just that a couple of saint’s caused trouble. Every school has troublemakers, i don’t think we’re all that immune. Do direct your anguish properly. It’s some, not all
hahahahahahaha. can’t u just look at difference in the settings? in the atmosphere? if your Leonard Wee didn’t caused that spark, would there be a fire?
Mrs Belinda Charles admitted we’re wrong. what about ACS? pushed the blame. Dr Ong didn’t even comment. good joke. it takes two hands to clap.
(After this incident,acsi is obviously the more “educated†people.They use their mouth and saints uses their fists.Only losers who cant speak english uses fist to “defend†themselves.)-hahaha Firstly,the acs fella scolded the opp’s mom,secondly,the finger.What if it was you,your relatives being insulted by a stranger,how the hell would you feel? Wonder what else can you can to that fella. BTW:”why cant you guys use the insult as something to motivate u guys to train harder?instead of complaining like a girl?†You think getting your mom insulted is Motivating? Pathetic passerby you are!
Hai wad a moron there bringing acs barker road into the discussion….get a life
i alr have a life.
Sa fails lose then complain losers
Grow up!
I was there and all I saw were Saints boys running into the field, whilst on the way to the other side of the field I heard some Saints boys proudly telling each other that they ran in to fight but by the time they got there, all over already.
As I did not see if any of the ACS lot ran in as my view was blocked, it would be unfair for me to comment on whether they retaliated or started the whole thing.
In conclusion, this whole incident is disgraceful to the game of Rugby.
Like what you already said. Your view was blocked. so how can you make assumptions by saying that you did not see ACS boys running in? They ran in to for your info.
anon, that’s my point… as I didn’t see what the AC boys did so I won’t comment or listen to hearsay, all I saw and heard were the reactions from the Saints boys.
I’m not saying that the AC boys are innocent or guilty either.
Regardless of what the AC boys did, the whole incident did not leave a good impression of what rugby should be to parents, guests and the Police.
Saints no sportsmanship? Ask Leonard Wee why he got punched:)
because he point that itchy finger of his in front of our rugger who was lying on the ground and said “you lost” into his face with the intention of provoking and initiating the fight.
our rugger just simply pushed his hand away and other ruggers who saw what happened “came to his rescue” at the first instinct with the intention of protecting their friend… and then things got out of hands…
You said your school’s rugger simply pushed his hand away, then where did he get the broken tooth and blood ?
Yes, provocation is not good sportsmanship but is punching a player on the ground good sportsmanship? So, save the talk about sportsmanship please. The fact remains that a player and non-players from ACS(I) were hurt and had to be hospitalised.