Story by Les Tan/Red Sports. Photos by Clara Yuan/Red Sports
ACSI players attempt to take down Timothy Pan (SAS #35) to prevent him from scoring a try. (Photo 1 © Clara Yuan/Red Sports)
PESEB, Thursday, February 4, 2016 — St. Andrew’s Secondary showed they are favourites for the title when they defeated defending champions Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) 22-0. It was the opening game for both teams in the National B Division Rugby Championship.
Yet the first 10 minutes of the game seemed to indicate that it was ACS(I) who would get the scoring going. They pinned St. Andrew’s in their half and got to within sniffing distance of the try line twice. However, dogged defending by St. Andrew’s both times denied ACS(I). ACS(I) never came close again.
The ACS(I) missed chances looked even more glaring when St. Andrew’s then proceeded to score the first try with their first serious attack. Timothy Pan (SAS #35) exploited gaps in the ACS(I) defence and offloaded to Khairil Ridzuan to score. Viviyan Philip (#14) stepped up to convert.
ACS(I) then lost Matthew Robinson (#8) and Joel Ting (#5) to concussion injuries. St. Andrew’s took advantage, scoring another try to make it 14-0.
Viviyan then missed a penalty from in front of the posts and ACS(I) looked like they could get back into the game when Matthew Robinson (#8) attempted a penalty from some distance. However, the kick fell short.
St. Andrew’s got further ahead in the second half when Timothy Pan (#35) aced a rarely seen drop goal. A 17-0 St. Andrew’s lead looked daunting and the rain then came pouring down to add to the ACS(I) misery.
The wet and slick conditions did nothing for passing and ball-handling and Choo Jian Hao (#37) went over for an unconverted try late in the second half to complete the 22-0 win.
St. Andrew’s captain Viviyan said, “It was exhilarating from the beginning and as we got into the game, it started to become exciting as both teams were rushing but my team managed to control the game, that was why we were very calm and composed.”
“I hope my team achieves great improvement through this season and that this improvement will help them become better players and hopefully they will be able to represent the country one day,” added Viviyan.
ACS(I) Roster
Benjamin Lim (#2), Isaac Tan (#3), Sim Soon Xiang (#4), Joel Ting (#5), Thomas Krellstein (#6), Muhammad Nur Solihin (#7), Matthew Robinson (#9), Bryan Ang (#18), Nicholas Wong (#10), Josh Quan (#11), Tristan Yeow (#12), Ian Teh (#13), Jaian Kurup (#14), Benjamin Poey (#15), Ira Teh (#16), Janan Yap (#18), Douglas Ang (#19), Lucas Teng Ivan (#21), Shane Patrick Duggan (#22), Adian-Scott Veroff (#25), Elroy Jahja-Loo (#28), Chamapun Kongpote (#30), Sean Tan (#31), Reuben Sivadas (#32), Timothy Goh (#34)
St. Andrew’s Roster
Dimayuga Dylan Gabriel (#5), Jeremy Lum (#6), Bryan Chan (#10), Ezekiel Koh (#12), Jerome Loh (#13), Viviyan Philip (#14), Jelinek Dylan Kirk (#16), Chan Chue Chun (#18), Lim Chang Yuan (#21), Umar (#22), Philip Distor Joseph (#23), Renald Lim (#26), Keong Qiliang (#29), Navaraj Rajendran (#31), Chua Wei Li (#34), Timothy Pan (#35), Choo Jian Hao (#37), Benjamin Lee (#42), Samuel Lee (#54), Ang Seow Pinn (#56), Sean Er (#57), James Leow (#60), Julian Leow (#63), Khairil Ridzuan (#66), Syamininurdhami (#67), Daryl Liau (#69), Sim Yong Zheng
National B Division Rugby Championship – fixtures and results
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