Story by REDintern Gabriel Goh. Photos by Rebekah Abbott/Red Sports
Maurice Lim (MI #13) attempts to run as he gains possession of the ball. (Photo 1 © Rebekah Abbott/Red Sports)
Physical Education and Sports Education Branch, Tuesday, April 8, 2014 — Battling in downcast weather and an early drizzle, Millennia Institute (MI) edged out Pioneer Junior College (PJC) in a 17-8 win in the National A Division Boys Rugby Championship.
MI led with a try each from Muhammad Hafiq (#10), Muhammad Irffan (#15) and Vengkatesh (#10), while Mohammad Ikhsan (#9) paced his PJC team with one try.
From the first half kickoff, PJC held more possession of the ball. Mohammad Irfan (PJC #18) took a penalty kick to secure the first three points of the match after his teammate was fouled (3–0).
Thereafter, Muhammad Hafiq (MI #1) muscled his way through a sturdy PJC defence to score his team’s first try. PJC continued to keep their feet in the game by pushing the ball up, playing with better passes but saw their hard work turn futile.
The low-scoring first half encouraged both sides to push for more points in the second half. Both sides eagerly stormed for more, as seen by the increase in tackles and scrums.
MI started off with a miss in penalty kick. Making the most of the PJC’s short clearances, MI pushed on the flanks as they constantly sought out for loopholes in their oppponents’ defence. Their hard work soon bore fruit as they earned themselves a scrum after a knock on near the try line. Muhammad Irffan (MI #15) subsequently scored a try. The resulting conversion kick was also scored.
Vengkatesh (MI #10) scored his team’s third try of the match after escaping from the grasp of his opponents. By then it looked as if all was over for PJC, but Ang Keng Hian (PJC #10) brought the ball up the centre. PJC managed to score a try in the hope of trying to regain a foothold in the match. Muhamed Feroz (#6)’s run down the centre allowed Mohammad Ikhsan (#9) to sneak down the left flank unmarked, then completing his team’s first try of the match. MI eventually beat PJC 17–8 claim their first win in the season.
MI captain, Vengkatesh (#10), said, “We learnt well from our previous game against SAJC, which we lost badly. We listened to our coach for advice and quickly got organised to train as early as 7.30am just to get prepared for this match. We played well this time and its a good response from our last match.”
PJC captain, Ang Kheng Hian (#10), responded by saying, “We didn’t expect to play so badly and our morale wasn’t good. It was hard for us this match and kudos to MI for their hard-fought win!”
This win consigns PJC to the plate round, while MI will stand a chance for the cup draw.
Scoring by half
PJC vs MI
1st half: 3–5
2nd half: 5–12 (8–17)
Final score: 8–17
Scorers
PJC
Mohammad Irfan (#18) – 1 penalty kick
Mohammad Ikhsan (#9) – 1 try
MI
Muhammad Hafiq (#1) – 1 try
Muhammad Irffan (#15) – 1 try
Vengkatesh A Danapalan (#10) – 1 try, 1 conversion
Pioneer Junior College Roster
Mohamad Hafiz (#1), Ang Guo Feng Stevan (#2), Ritchie Seow Kok Siong (#3), Derick Jayaputra Jarabejo (#4), Ang Zhao Wei (#5), Muhamed Feroz (#6), Daniel Chia Ji Cheng (#7), Ng Sin Kee (#8), Mohammad Ikhsan (#9), Ang Keng Hian (#10), Low Zi Hao (#11), Chew Zhi Yuan (#12), Aaron Tan Jian Min (#13), Irving Chin Chuan Park (#14), Nicholas Aw Jun Yeow (#15), Jacob Jian Feng Jarabejo (#17), Mohammad Irfan (#18), Chua Wei Hern (#19), Mughican S/O Thanabalan (#20), Ng Mai Feng (#21), Do Manh Hoang (#23), Kim Byung Jun (#24), Lim Cheng Chang (#25), Seow Zhi Chao (#26).
Millennia Junior College Roster
Muhammad Hafiq Bin Asni (#1), Nicholas Witjaksono (#2), Abdalmateen B Jamil (#3), Muhammad Fawwaz B Abdul Aziz (#4), Benedict Anthony Jacob (#5), Azhari Tay B Akber (#6), Shaanraj Singh Dhillon (#7), Dylan Patrick Rodrigues (#8), Muhammad Haikal B Ghazali (#9), Vengkatesh A Danapalan (#10), Antonin Crestois (#11), Jerald Low (#12), Maurice Lim Teng Chun (#13), Muhammah Danish B Amiril (#14), Muhammad Irffan B Mahmood (#15), Danial Faris Feroz Aslam F (#16), Osfred Chariany Jefferson (#17), Ahmad Tirmidzi Putera Junadi (#18), Nur Asri B Ali (#19), Lin Hao (#20), Leong Zhi Cheng Samuel (#21), Avinash Thirupathi Ayya (#22), Dinesh Kumaar S/O Berabaharan (#23), Koh Chun Hoe Alex (#24), Muhamad Firdaus Bin Mohamed A (#25), Wong Wei Jie (#26), Cheong Zixiang Gabriel (#27), Abraham Francis Dale Tomarong (#28).
National A Division Boys Rugby Championship — Fixtures and Results
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