Story by Zachary Foo/Red Sports. Photos by Laura Lee/Red Sports.
SAJC players celebrating their semi-final win over RI. SAJC will be facing ACS(I) in the final match next Wednesday at Home Team Academy. (Photo 1 © Laura Lee/Red Sports)
PESEB, Monday, May 5, 2014 — St. Andrew’s Junior College (SAJC) are through to the final of the National A Division Rugby Championship after a gritty 15–7 win over Raffles Institution (RI). The match was tightly contested all the way and the score margin did not exceed double digits at any point in the game. There were also two yellow cards shown in the game.
RI started the game well, using their front line to gain territory. They had the opportunity to put points up on the board, but they missed the penalty kick. Lightning alert was called after five minutes elapsed and the teams went off the field.
After the match resumed, SAJC came out with renewed vigour. Their forwards were able to drive the ball down the field into RI territory. However, RI were able to stop the drive at their 5-yard line, as they punted the ball away.
Adley Goh (SAJC #6) broke through for the first try of the match. After RI conceded a penalty at the 5-yard line, SAJC elected to take the scrum. They then worked the ball to their outside backs and Adley was able to finish off the play by scoring the try. Kelvin Yau (SAJC #13) took the conversion kick, but his kick fell short.
RI looked to respond towards the end of the first half, but SAJC’s backs were keeping their wingers in check. RI were able to enter SAJC territory a couple of times but lacked the decisive finish to break through and score the try. An RI player received a yellow card for lifting an SAJC player into the air during a tackle, which warranted the booking. At the end of the half, SAJC took a slim 5–0 lead.
The second half saw Raffles finally make a breakthrough. Through the strength of their forwards, they advanced down into the SAJC 5-yard line. It took them a couple of minutes, but Ryan Sek (RI #21) eventually broke through the SAJC defence to score and tie the game up. The try was converted to give RI a two-point, 7–5 lead.
After the try, the complexion of the game changed completely. Both teams seemed to get more and more frantic in a bid to score another try. After an RI penalty, Kelvin Yau (SAJC #13) converted the kick to give SAJC an 8–7 lead.
Raffles looked to break through the SAJC defence with their burly wingers. The tactic succeeded a couple of times, but the SAJC defence was able to clear the ball out of their territory. Midway through the second half, RI ceded possesion at the breakdown near their own 22-yard line. SAJC took full advantage of it, advancing the ball close to the five-yard line. Samuel Koh (SAJC #7) found some daylight down the middle of the field, bundling over the try line to put SAJC up 13–7. Kelvin Yau then kicked the conversion, increasing their lead to a comfortable 15–7.
RI threatened to score in the final 10 minutes, but were unable to convert the opportunity. They were able to advance the ball to SAJC’s five-yard line, but SAJC were able to repel their advances. In the end, a penalty proved costly for RI, allowing SAJC to kick the ball to safety and secure a 15–7 win.
SAJC will now face Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) in the final on Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at Home Team Academy. Kickoff is at 5.15pm.
SAJC captain, Samuel Koh, said, “It was disheartening when Raffles took the lead at 7–5 because I was binned at the moment. I felt that it was my fault. Before the match, I knew we had to stick our heads in the game and bring it to Raffles regardless of what happened. It was through sheer will and guts that we got the win. I thought about the team throughout and we kept fighting. It was both satisfying and relieving to score the second try, as I thought I really owed one to the team.”
Scoring by Half
St. Andrew’s Junior College vs Raffles Institution
1st Half: 5–0
2nd Half: 10–7 (15–7)
Scorers
SAJC
Adley Goh – 1 try
Samuel Koh – 1 try
Kelvin Yau – 1 conversion and 1 penalty
RI
Ryan Sek (#21) – 1 try
1 conversion
SAJC Roster
Andre Theodore Seah Qin Wei, Ryan Ong Tse Ting, Muhammad Asyraf B Sukor, Joel Chua Mingyi, Matthew Lim Wei Li, Lucas Lim Zhe Hao, Samuel Koh Giap Yang, Jeromy Chua Kai Ching, Colin Loh Xing Bao, Derek Ng Kok Heng, Muhammad Farhan B Hazri, Zechary Koh Kai, Kelvin Yau Yu Hang, Adley Goh Jun-Hui, Kon Fu Yuan, Kumaresh Haridas, Gowri Shankar Gokulan, Reuben Peh Jia Hao, Jonathan Lin Shengkai, Vickneshwaran S/O S. Supramaniam, Delvon Anand Jose Charles, Jotham Teo, John Steven Lee, Jeremy Hee Ting Kang, Gabriel Augustine Silva, Dedrick Lim Yong Yew, Gregory Png Wei Jie, Sean Lee Jun Wei
RI Roster
Evan(s) Teoh (#1), Chia Wei Shern (#2), Dean Fu (#3), Ng Wei Meng (#4), Tan Zong Sheng (#5), Muhammad Syahid (#6), Ho Yishu (#8), Muhammad Afiq (#9), Maverick Lim (#10), Cleven Loh (#11), Cheng Ying (#12), Samuel Goh (#13), Chong Chung Chi (#14), Kyle Chong (#15), Muhammad Ibrahim (#16), Tan Jin Yan (#17), Park Chang Kyu (#18), Chew Jing Yan (#19), Ryan Sek (#21), Shant Sin (#22), Shaun Cheng (#23), Shreyas Babu (#24), Zhang You Sheng (#27), Russell Tan (#29), Teo Jian Ming (#30), Shawn Paul Fredrick (#32), Foo Jih Shenn (#38), Kim Do Kyum (#39)
A Division Rugby Championship — Fixtures and Results
More photos next page
Interestingly, all the points scorers were Saints – once a Saint always a Saint 🙂