Story by Adrian Tan. Photos by Les Tan/Red Sports

Elroy Jahja-Loo ACS(I) vs RI C Division rugby (Photo 1 © Les Tan/Red Sports)

Elroy Jahja-Loo of ACS(I) scoring a try in the first half. (Photo 1 © Les Tan/Red Sports)

Physical and Sports Education Branch, Evans Road, Monday, July 13, 2015 – Defending champions Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) defeated Raffles Institution 31–13 for their first win of the National C Division Rugby Championship.

ACS(I) led 19–8 at half time.

The win for ACS(I) comes after their opening 12–15 loss to St. Andrew’s Secondary last week.

For RI, this is their first loss after their opening 20–17 win over Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Rd) last week.

Richard Goo (#7) of ACS(I) scored the opening try 3 minutes in but the conversion was unsuccessful.

The 5–0 ACS(I) lead did not last long as RI took advantage of a penalty from 30m out to reduce the deficit to two points (3–5).

Play was fairly even until Raffles had one of their power forwards stretchered off. After that, ACS(I) were able to boss the scrums, and the pressure from the pack started to tell.

Matthew Lim of ACS(I) went over for a try under the posts and Aran Willetts converted for a 12–3 lead, before Elroy Jahja-Loo made the most of a scrum won from an RI put in 5m out to rumble over for a try and conversion. ACS(I) now led 19–3.

However, just as things were starting to look cosy for ACS(I), a knock on from the resultant kick off, followed by an RI penalty, led to RI knocking the ball long to touch.

RI took full advantage of a lineout from 5m out, going phase after phase, with ACS(I) incurring repeated penalties for offsides, before they finally went in low for an unconverted try to reduce the deficit to 11 points (8–19).

ACS(I) stopped the RI momentum in the first 15 minutes of the second half with two tries from Elroy (#8), both from 5m scrums. With one conversion out of the two, ACS(I) led by a comfortable 31–8.

However, the intensity of ACS(I) visibly dipped a notch. RI took advantage of hesitant ACS(I) defending and tackling to swing the ball wide, creating a 2-vs-1 advantage to score a beauty on the left. A failed conversion left the score at 31–13.

Play was then patchy at best, and bumbling errors from both sides saw numerous knock ons and scrums. Yet, it was RI who continued to threaten to score in the closing moments, with ACS(I) struggling to close the match out.

ACS(I) next play ACS(BR) on Monday, July 20, 4.30pm, at PESEB, while RI will play St. Joseph’s Institution on the same day and at the same venue at 3pm.

N.B. If you know the name of the RI penalty kicker and try scorer, please let us know in the comments section and we’ll update the story. Thanks.

ACS(I) Roster
Elijah Ho Teng Loong (#1), Ira Teh Jia Le (#2), Ang Wei Sheng, Bryan (#3), Joshua Tan Kai Shenn (#5), Reuben Sivadas Ruixian (#6), Richard Goo Zheng Wei (#7), Elroy Irwan Jahja-Loo (#8), Khoo Shen Yi, Stuart Dylan (#9), Teng Ivan, Lucas (#10), Goh Jing Hao Timothy (#11), Aran James Willetts (#12), Finan Siow (#13), Jason Tan Jun Hao (#14), Sean Tan Jun Kai (#15), Chang You-Sheng, Ethan (#16), Kwan Ean Fung, Ian (#17), Ong Li-Sheng (#18), Sean Ng Shi Wen (#19), Lim Dao Yuan Matthew (#20), Andrius Wong Jun Long (#21), Joshua Amarjeet Magherra (#22), Huang Jing Yu (#23), Tan Soon Kang, William (#24), Tan Jern Yu Timothy (#26), Lim Hongxi (#28), Muhammad Aiman B Mohammad Azhar (#32), Muhammad Kiane Rashidale (#36), Timothy Chan (#45)

RI Roster
Leon Kollart (#1), Sek Ray (#2), Aiman Jianhao B Ikram (#3), Luqmanul Hakim B Nor Idham (#4), Ang Ben Yao, Aldrick (#5), Joshua Choy Weng Yew (#6), Izaac Tay Yi Ren (#7), Joshua Poon (#8), Jonathan Christopher Lim (#9), Gideon Kee An (#10), Spencer Wee Ye Kai (#11), Muhammad Wafiq Aqil B W S (#12), Goh Zheng Hui Javille (#13), Zhu Hongpeng (#14), Lee Kai Si (#15), Ho Kai En (#16), Goh Kai Jen Nicholas (#17), Ahmad Amsyar B Mohd Adom (#18), Wong Wei Feng Bervyn (#19), Amirul Haziq B Muhammad E (#20), Jordan Poon (#21), Kee Yun Shao (#22), Dylan Clarke (#24), Muhammad Rifdi B Salahudin (#26), Rohit George Joseph (#27), Seetoh Chung Hon Stanley (#28), Yeo Isaac (#29), Ho Jun Wei Matthew (#30)

National C Division Rugby Championship – fixtures and results

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