Story by REDintern Iman Hashim. Photos by REDintern Chua Kai Yun.

Jediel Yew (RI #13) enters the try zone after dodging his opponents. Jediel scored RI’s second try in the second half of the game. (Photo 1 © REDintern Chua Kai Yun)

Jediel Yew (RI #13) enters the try zone after dodging his opponents. Jediel scored RI’s second try in the second half of the game. (Photo 1 © REDintern Chua Kai Yun)

PESEB, Monday, February 15, 2016 — Raffles Institution (RI) emerged 17-10 winners over Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) [ACS(BR)] in the B Division Rugby Championship to remain unbeaten after two matches.

RI had earlier beaten Pioneer Secondary 48-7 in their opening match.

For ACS(BR), this leaves their win-loss record at 1-1 after a 20-3 opening win against St. Joseph’s Institution.

RI dominated the opening exchanges, pressing forward more often to peg ACS(BR) back inside their own 22-yard line.

Yet, it was ACS(BR) who snatched the first points of the game. Via a driving maul, prop Joshua Ng (#1) powered his way to the try-line to give ACS(BR) a 5-0 lead after 21 minutes of play. ACS(BR) missed the conversion attempt.

But on the stroke of half-time, RI equalised through an unconverted try by Sek Ray (#26), after a similar scramble near the try-line. The timing of the try was pivotal as RI went into the half-time break with renewed belief that the game could be theirs for the taking.

That belief was temporarily dented, however, as ACS(BR) scored yet another unconverted try just 2 minutes after the restart to make it 10-5 in their favour.

It proved to be a topsy-turvy encounter as seven minutes later, Jediel Yew (RI #13) used his burly frame to shake off multiple tackles, and showing off some nifty footwork, shimmied past a couple of ACS(BR) backs with pace to place the ball on the right flank of the try zone.

ACS(BR) were left to rue their two missed conversions, as Alexander Ong (#10) stepped up to convert for RI in spite of the tight angle for a 12-10 lead.

Consequently, ACS(BR) applied more pressure as they surged forward repeatedly. In the 50th minute, after a good flowing move, Danish Rusydi [ACS(BR) #11] received the ball on the left flank just mere metres away from the try-line but simultaneous last-ditch tackles by two RI backs protected their lead.

Alas for ACS(BR), RI put the nail in the coffin with literally the last play of the game with a try by Javille Goh (#11), making it 17-10. After some great passing movement of the ball down the line to the right flank, Alexander Ong (#10) provided the final pass for Javille to calmly place the ball over the try-line.

Jediel Yew (#13) scuffed his left-footed attempt at conversion thereafter but it did not matter.

RI’s mettle will be tested when they meet defending champions Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) next. The match will be held on February 22 at PESEB. ACS(BR) will look to put this result behind them as they take on Pioneer Secondary on February 25 at the same venue.

Score by Half
RI vs ACS(BR)
1st Half: 5-5
2nd Half: 12-5 (17-10)

RI Roster
Jordan Poon (#30), Aiman Jianhao B Ikram (#3), Sri Ram Al Ramasamy Muthuraman (#18), Shafiq Imran (#2), Joshua Choy (#27), Izaac Tay (#6), Gideon Kee An (#8), Sek Ray (#26), Ryan Chng (#27), Jameson Chia (#7), Li Aidan Mann Rong (#20), Luqmanul Hakim (#4), Kee Yun Shao (#22), Ivan Leong (#9), Bervyn Wong (#24), Shawn Goh (#33), Alexander Ong (#10), Zuriel Chua (#17), Muhammad Wafiq Aqil (#25), Jediel Yew Shen (#13), Ezra Lim (#14), Javille Goh (#11), Mitchell Yap (#12), Isaac Yeo (#29), Zhu Hongpeng (#15), Ahmad Amsyar (#24), Madabhushi Aravind (#1)

ACS(BR) Roster
Joshua Ng (#1), Jerel Wong (#2), Sushendran S/O Ramesh (#3), Muhamad Haziq Danial (#8), Fauzan Aziem B Mohammad E (#9), Tak Senryu Uchikawa (#16), Mohammad Ghazi (#17), Choo Junquan (#18), Mohamed Danish B Rosman (#27), Justin Chia (#4), Paul Wei Jun Allwood (#5), Hersh Harish Rupawala (#6), Matteo Rinaldi (#7), Tristan Philip Alfred Galistan (#10), Danish Rusydi B Sidek (#11), Christopher Tan (#12), Jarrett Heng (#13), Jason Lam (#14), Cheng Kai (#15), Joel Tan (#19), Wee Hong Han (#20), Ethan Winston Sum (#21), Tristan Oh (#22), Gareth Lim (#23), Ian Foo (#24), Donovan Tay (#25), Muhamad Rudy Danish (#26), Jerome Francis Ong (#28)

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