A Division Netball: ACS(I) make history while Victoria JC qualify for second round for first time in 3 years

Story by Chan Hui Mui/Red Sports. Photos by REDintern Low Hui Yu and Justin Teh

Republic Polytechnic, Thursday, May 5, 2011 — Anglo Chinese School (Independent) made history when they qualified for the second round of the National A Division Netball Championship for the first time.

Victoria Junior College will also make their first appearance in the second round after a three-year drought.

In their crucial and final Group B match, ACS(I) beat Tampines Junior College (TPJC) 43-40 to grab the second place — the final qualifying spot — in the group. ACS(I) exploded in the first quarter to take a 13-3 lead over TPJC at the end of the first quarter. TPJC finally calmed themselves down enough in the second quarter to keep ACS(I) in sight until the fourth quarter.

In the final quarter, ACS(I) seemed to grow tired and lose concentration, allowing TPJC to capitalise and narrow the deficit. However, they ran out of time, allowing ACS(I) to wrap up the match 43-40 and book a spot in second round. TPJC have not qualified for the second round for more than five years and will have to wait until next year to have another chance to end this unwanted streak.

Hwa Chong Institution, on the other hand, had no difficulty in finishing top of Group B. Hwa Chong thrashed Innova Junior College and ACS(I) 110-1 and 84-9 respectively. Hwa Chong also beat TPJC convincingly 74-14.

Although Hwa Chong dominated the group, Hwa Chong’s coach, Lin Shuangru felt that her team could have started the tournament better.

“We did not start the tournament well. However, we improved and had a more consistent play as the tournament progressed. We need to maintain this consistency in the second round,” said Lin.

In the other Group B matches, ACS(I) and TPJC swept aside Innova JC 55-15 and 38-9 respectively.

In Group D, last year’s champions Anglo Chinese Junior College saw no threat from any of their opponents and topped their group. ACJC thrashed Victoria JC (97-7), Meridian JC (91-13), Jurong JC (69-11) and Pioneer JC (74-11).

In the competition for second place in the group, Jurong JC were in the running until the last day of the tournament. Their defeat by ACJC apart, Jurong had won all the other matches, including against the strongest opponent of the group, VJC.

However, Jurong fumbled their final group game, losing 32-37 to underdogs Pioneer JC, thus allowing Victoria JC into the second round. Victoria had earlier defeated Pioneer JC 47-30.

In the toughest group of the tournament, Group A, St. Andrew’s Junior College, who ended their campaign early last year in the first round, came back strongly this year to finish first in the group. On the other hand, last year’s third runners-up, Temasek JC, had a poor performance and ended their campaign early.

St. Andrew defeated Nanyang JC (44-23), Serangoon JC (52-19) and Temasek JC (63-14). In the crucial match against River Valley High, St. Andrew’s led right from the first quarter and wrapped up the game 45-38.

“We lost to a better team. Their Goal Shooter, Sin Xin Yee, was hard to overcome,” said River Valley’s coach, Puvanesvary Alahakone.

In Group C, last year’s second runners-up Raffles Institution had no difficulty finishing top of the group, defeating all their opponents by at least 40 goals. RI thrashed Yishun JC (85-12) and NUS High (70-9), and swept aside Anderson JC (63-23) and Catholic JC (65-18).

In their deciding match against last year’s quarter-finalists Anderson JC, Catholic JC gave them a tough time. However, Anderson JC proved stronger to wrap up the game 40-34 to qualify for the second round.

For the second round, Raffles Institution, St. Andrew Junior College, Victoria Junior College and Anglo Chinese School (Independent) make up Group X while Anderson Junior College, River Valley High, Anglo Chinese Junior College and Hwa Chong Institution will contest in Group Y.

“River Valley High have the greatest potential to create an upset in the second round,” said ACJC’s coach, Kok Mun Wai.

“The ball is round. We will take the game, one at a time,” commented River Valley’s coach Puvanesvary.

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