Story by Jiexin Neo/Red Sports. Photos by Clara Yuan/Red Sports
Laos players tackling Samuel Teo. (Photo 1 © Clara Yuan/Red Sports)
Choa Chu Kang Stadium, Sunday, June 7, 2015 — Singapore went down 10–14 to Thailand and thrashed Laos 66–0 in their final preliminary game in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games rugby 7s tournaments. In the women’s final group game, Singapore saw off Philippines 12–7 to qualify for the final.
The men from Thailand started the game strong, almost scoring the first try, but Singapore tackled time and time again to keep them at bay. The hosts gained possession right after that and came close to grounding the ball several times. On an offensive play, they strung together passes from one flank to the other, eventually finding a gap that allowed Muhammad Zaki (#5) to score a try for 5–0.
However, a lapse in defence thereafter allowed Thailand a fast break where Kaewkorn Wuttikorn (#6) equalised (5–5). Plybua Pitpong (#5) duly converted it to give the visitors the lead (7–5).
Close to half-time, Singapore gained possession of the ball after a scrum, but the ball slipped out of a player’s hands. Singapore trailed 7–5 break.
In the second half, one good run saw Daniel Marc Chow (#4) make a well-placed pass to Zaki (#5), who subsequently got tackled near the try line. With under a minute to go, Singapore was desperately looking to score, but the Thais refused to budge. Thailand eventually forced a turnover and scored one through Thiengtrong Sarayuth (#11), with a successful conversion increasing their lead to 14–5.
Despite the nine-point deficit, Singapore kept their heads up and fought to the last second. In the final play, Derek Chan (#6) got one back for Singapore when he scored a try to reduce the deficit to 10–14. This is Singapore’s second loss in the preliminaries after being beaten 17–0 by Philippines.
In Singapore’s final preliminary game against Laos, Naresh Kunasegaran (#11) started off strong, shaking off two defenders in a row with his nimble footwork. Singapore retained most of the possession, and scored a deserving try shortly after through Moehammad Marah (#8). Naresh converted for 7–0. Marah scored his second consecutive try shortly after (12–0).
Singapore went on a scoring streak and led 24–0 before Ho Yi Shu (#3) put one more past the visitors just before half time. He survived two consecutive tackles before breaking free of the Laos defenders, then sprinted to the try line to ground the ball (29–0). Marah (#8) converted to end the first half 31–0.
Singapore dominated in the second half and eventually thrashed Laos 66–0 to end off their preliminaries. Marah (#8) led with a game-high 16 points, registering two tries and three conversions. Naresh (#11) scored a try and four conversions for Singapore.
In the women’s tournament, the Singapore’s women team beat Philippines 12–7 in their last preliminary game. Singapore had good chances at scoring right from the start, but could not find a breakthrough past Philippines’ defence. They finally scored after five minutes through Jeslyn Lim (#9) who shook off her defenders, and Wong Yilin (#12) followed up with a conversion (7–0).
Jeslyn (#9) made a run at the start of the second half, and then passed off the ball right before she got tackled. Two passes later, they found Derelyn Chua (#6) who sprinted unchallenged to ground the ball in the corner (12–0).
Ono Aiumi (#10) reduced Philippines’ deficit to 7–12 following a try and a conversion. Singapore denied Philippines’ final play in the final minute and forced a turnover, thereafter sealing the 12–7 victory to qualify for the final.
Singapore’s men will face Thailand next in the game for third place on 7 June, 3.50pm at Choa Chu Kang Stadium. The women’s team will be up against Thailand for their final at 4.15pm.
Singapore’s men roster
Blandon Tan (#1), Jonathan Lee (#2), Ho Yi Shu (#3), Daniel Marc Chow (#4), Muhammad Zaki (#5), Derek Chan (#6), Bryan Ng (#7), Marah Moehammad Hoessein Marah (#8), Max Ducourneau (#9), Samuel Teo (#10), Naresh Kunasegaran (#11), Nicholas Yau (#12)
Singapore’s women roster
Alvinia Ow Yong (#1), Chua Yini (#4), Samantha Teo (#5), Derelyn Chua (#6), Angelina Liu (#7), Chan Jia Yu (#8), Jeslyn Lim (#9), Christabelle Lim (#10), Chloe Besanger (#11), Wong Yilin (#12), Lee Yi Tian (#15), Lim Li Yan (#16)
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