Story by Joash Chow/Red Sports. Photos by Bryan Foo and Joash Chow/Red Sports. 

Saint’s Wesley Choo (SA #15) slides to score the final try of the semi-final as St. Andrew’s Secondary School beat St. Joseph’s Institution 45-3 (Photo 1 © Bryan Foo/Red Sports)

Saint’s Wesley Choo (SA #15) slides to score the final try of the semi-final as St. Andrew’s Secondary School beat St. Joseph’s Institution 45-3 (Photo 1 © Bryan Foo/Red Sports)

MOE (Evans) Stadium, Wednesday, 14 August 2024 — St. Andrew’s Secondary School have progressed to the final of the National School Games C Division Rugby after a convincing 45-3 win over St. Joseph’s Institution.

Despite the Saints-dominated final score-line, it was SJI that struck first with a strong start in the first ten minutes.

Edging towards the St. Andrew’s try line, SJI were awarded a penalty for repeated offside infringements from the Saints. 

Opting for the penalty kick, SJI put in a 3-0 lead through Aydyn Haris (SJI #8). 

“I’m very proud of the boys, they gave their 100% effort,” said SJI coach Mr Farhan Amran.

He added: “We didn’t expect to make it to the semi-final… but the boys really worked hard for this tournament.”

Despite having possession this quarter, the Josephians were frustratingly unable to put in the points. SJI’s lead was short-lived as St. Andrew’s made their own entries onto the scoreboard.

Wesley Choo (SA #15) scored Saint’s first try after receiving an SJI clearance kick and making a break down the left wing. The try was successfully converted by Choo (SA #15).

Not long later, St. Andrew’s found themselves 5 metres from the SJI try line with a penalty awarded. Javier Chen (SA #30) took a quick tap but passed the ball to forward Acopio Rafael Inigo Dingcong (SA #3) who dived over for a try.

The Saints were in the same position again, being awarded another penalty. Taking the quick tap, Chen (SA #30) instead drove over the line for the try this time.

Choo (SA #15) did well to kick both conversions from the left of the pitch successfully for a 21-3 lead at halftime.

In the second-half, Giani Lorenzo Ivo Wen (SA #17) and Isaac Nair (SA #24) both found themselves on the scoreboard through tries of their own. 

Choo’s (SA #15) first conversion bounced off the post, but managed the second conversion from the sidelines as St. Andrew’s extended their lead to a comfortable 33-3.

Javier Chen (SA #30) then found his way to the try line again and Choo (SA #15) kicked his fifth conversion.

SJI made headway in the next period as they dominated territory off the kick restart and came within 10 metres of scoring.

A Josephian knock-on off a strike move, however, returned possession to the Saints and led to St. Andrew’s attacking back into SJI’s half.

Wesley Choo (SA #15) sliced through the defensive line and finished a try for a game-high haul of 20 points.

The Saints were almost in for a late try in final play but did not manage to finish, and the game ended with a full time score of 45-3.

“It feels very good to win,” said St. Andrew’s captain Joshua Kee (#9).

“We worked very hard over the long weekend to prepare for this game… We started off slow and SJI put up a good fight.”

Mr Jacob, St. Andrew’s C Division Rugby teacher-in-charge, said: “We have been very critical of ourselves… we’ll be trying to be a bit more positive. [The final] will be tough… we’re going to work hard as a team.”

In spite of the loss, SJI captain Elio Neo (#15) said, “It was a good effort from the team today, we just have to push harder in the 3rd/4th placing match.”

“We’ll try to get 3rd with all our heart.”

Saint Andrew’s Secondary School will play Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) in the final at Jurong West Stadium on Monday, 26 August 2024 at 3.00pm.

Saint Joseph’s Institution will play Raffles Institution in the 3rd/4th placing match at Jurong West Stadium on Monday, 26 August 2024 at 9.00am.

 

Saint Andrew’s Secondary School v Saint Joseph’s Institution

Scoring by half
Half-time: 21-3
Full-time: 45-3

Scorers

Saint Andrew’s Secondary School
Acopio Rafael Inigo Dingcong (#3) – 1 try
Giani Lorenzo Ivo Wen (#17) – 1 try
Isaac Diamante Nair (#24) – 1 try
Javier Chen Bingxian (#30) – 2 tries
Wesley Axel Choo (#15) – 2 tries, 5 conversions

Saint Joseph’s Institution
Aydyn Haris bin Hisham (#8) – 1 penalty

Saint Andrew’s Secondary School Roster

Andre Gerald Castillo Gunasagar (#16), Javier Chen Bingxian (#30), Acopio Rafael Inigo Dingcong (#3), Kian Tay Kuang Yong (#1), Liang Kaisheng Kayden (#18), Ong Chin Say (#22), Chen Siyao (#20), Wong Zing Bok Alexander (#2), Isaac Diamante Nair (#24), Nathan Ang (#4), Axel Chen Ke Xu (#12), Kiefer Cheong Kai Feng (#26),Tan Ying Yi Aidan (#23), Wesley Axel Choo (#15), Ezekiel Tan Rui Jie (#21), Jovan Poh (#5), Kaydon Cheng Lin Kai (#25), Josiah Ong Zhuo En (#29), Moloney Harry Phit (#8), Manas Singh Dhillon (#10), Sergius Franklin Flemming (#11), Alexander Luke Chng Ji Cheng (#19), Giani Lorenzo Ivo Wen (#17), Joshua Lim Kai Xuan (#7), Joshua Kee (#9), Koh Ting Wei Gabriel (#6), Evans Lim (#13), Huang Junkai (#27), Lim Jing Teng Tyler (#14), Lim Yih Shan Aidan (#28)

Saint Joseph’s Institution Roster

Zheng Xuanlang (#1), Matthew Peters (#3), Aydyn Haris bin Hisham (#8), Darius Chia Feng Kai (#19), Low Junfeng Paxton (#20), Rephael Lee Fhei (#31), Raleigh James Pritchard (#29), Ong Shixiong, Everett (#42), Aidan Chan Yong-Rui (#25), Benjamin Soh Yoke Wei (#13), David Emmanuel Bloodworth (#9), Matthew Ethan Lee Ming-En (#6), Alexander Marc Tay Chen Kai (#10), Blane Evangelius Sim (#7), Ethan Ng Zi Yi (#30), Joshua Kuan Jun Hou (#24), Elio Neo Yan Jun (#15), Zachary Noel Ang Ming Xian (#21), Yan Keyang (#4), Kieren Phua Chyi Yuan (#12), Zachary Teh Zhuo Ming (#28), Emilio Jude de Silva (#2), Loke Junrong Rafael (#5), Xander Kane Neufeldt (#18), Khoo Jia Jun, Louis (#17), Khoo Jia Long, Brendan (#22), Shane Pravin Thomas Xuan-Yi (#23), Zhang Fenghua (#11), Edward Pang Yu Rui (#26), Nathaniel Tan (#36)

 

*** NOTE: Names and jersey numbers are based on official team sheets.

More photos next page. Please let us know if you recognise any of the players in the photos by leaving a comment, so we can edit the captions to include their names.