SCC 7s: SCC crash out in semis while Penguins triumph over SA Vipers in pulsating Ablitt Cup final

Story by Noor Farhan/ Red Sports. Pictures Chua Yueda/ Red Sports and Vanessa Lim/ Red Sports.

Padang, Sunday, November 7, 2010 — Despite a comprehensive 24-0 routing of Brunei’s Flying Kukris earlier in the day, Singapore Cricket Club (SCC) failed to advance in the Bowl competition of the SCC 7s after failing to get past Sri Lanka’s SLRFU 7, going down 19-26.

Meanwhile the HSBC Penguins dethroned South Afican Vipers in sudden death to win the 2010 Ablitt Cup.

SCC, in their trademark yellow and black stripes, scored the first try of the game through Frank Schaller who broke fast down the right after catching the Sri Lankan’s by surprise with his intelligent running.

His teammate Hairul Naim scored the second try in almost the same way after weaving past an almost static Sri Lankan line, sliding onto the grass to celebrate before converting the try to put the scoreline at 14-0 for the local team.

Their celebrations were short lived as SLRFU 7 began stamping their class on the field with their high-speed play and lung-bursting runs through the centre of the park, one of which earned them a well deserved try, which they converted to make it 14-7.

The SCC team tried but failed to contain the speedy Sri Lankans as the second half drew to a close. SLRFU 7 raced ahead to a 26-14 lead after some intense attacking play, even as Jonathan Lee scored the consolation try to make it 19-26 right at the end of regulation time.

“We aren’t exactly the fastest team (in the competition), but we managed to hold our own in the beginning,” commented Jonathan after the game.

“However, we started to lose ground the moment we lost the ball, as they had really quick players who could really do us damage,” said the player, who had recently competed in the Bangkok 7s for his club about a month ago.

Saving the best for last were the HSBC Penguins who were up against the South African Vipers for the Ablitt Cup. Playing in the evening downpour under the floodlights, the Penguins left it to the last minute to win in sudden death, much to the delight of the 4000-strong, mostly expatriate crowd in attendance.

The partisan atmosphere played its part in the exciting bout of rugby, with the beer in free flow and the crowd singing along to old hits like The Proclaimers “I Wanna Be 500 Miles” and The Village People’s “YMCA” among others, as the Penguins nicked the first try off the defending champions through Nalu Tuigamala in the eighth minute after a line out throw.

Not one to go down without a fight, the Vipers returned salvo, this time through Bernado Botha’s try at the start of the second half.

However, David Raikuna threatened to pop the champagne early for the Penguins with a surge through the centre of the park to seal a try which was duly converted to put the score at 14-7 with three minutes to go.

Right at the death, up popped Viper’s Bernado Botha to score a last second try which was converted by his teammate Branco du Preez to level the score at 14-14 to set up an exciting sudden death.

Fate was certainly smiling on the Penguin’s side, as David Raikuna scored for them as they clinched the Ablitt Cup in style.

” I’m just glad that we won it in the end. I think our defence did a good job, conceding only 3 tries the whole tournament,” commented Penguin’s Paula Kinikinilau.

“Our opponents were good, they showed their class out there today but the better team won tonight, ” said the Tongan, when asked about his opponents.

” (The Penguins) played well and were really good tonight. They had three or four players playing for the (New-Zealand) All-Blacks and it certainly helped them,” said the Viper’s Francis Horne. “It was certainly a good experience (playing against them) and we can take the positives from tonight and built on it for our future games.”

Penguins Lineup
Irwin Finay (#5), Manu Leiataua (#2), Roy Griffin (#3), Shane Christie (#13), Vili Fihaki (#4), Ben Botica (#6), David Raikuna (#10), Matthew Hodson (#15), Nalu Tuigamala (#9), Johnny McNicholl (#11), Paula Kinikinilau (#12), Nafi Tuitavake (Captain) (#14)

South African Vipers Lineup
Jacques Engelbrecht (#2), Lubabalo Mtembu (#1), Francis Horne (#3), Johnathan Mokuena (#8), Kyle Brown (#6), Petrus Engelbrecht(#13), Bernado Botha (#14), Mark Richards (#15), Branco du Preez (#9), Logan Basson (#10), Howard Noble (#7), Sibusiso Sithole (#12)

Other Results for the SCC International Rugby 7s Matches

Ablitt Cup Last 16
Penguins 44 East Arnhem Rugby 0
Ponsonby 27 Sunnybank 5
Horowhenua-Kapiti 33 NT Mosquitoes 10
Palmyra 12 Impala 17
Borneo Eagles 22 Negeri Sembilan Wanderers 0
Japan Samurais 22 Hong Kong Dragons 26
South African Vipers 31 Cottesloe 5

Bowl Competition Quarter Finals
Singapore Cricket Club 24 The Flying Kukris 0
SLRFU7 34 Southern Lions 7
Casuarina Cougars 10 Tamariva RFC 24

Plate Competition Quarter-Finals
East Arnhem Rugby 14 Sunnybank 35
NT Mosquitoes 19 Palmyra 7
Negeri Sembilan Wanderers 1 Japan Samurais 0
Cobras 19 Cottesloe 12

Ablitt Cup Quarter-Finals
Penguins 36 Ponsonby 0
Horowhenua-Kapiti 26 Impala 5
Borneo Eagles 33 Hong Kong Dragons 7
Davetalevu 17 South African Vipers 24

Jug Competition Semi-Finals
The Flying Kukris 5 Southern Lions 7
Casuarina Cougars (Bye)

Bowl Competition Semi-Finals
Singapore Cricket Club 19 SLRFU7 26
Tamariva RFC 19 Singapore Barbarians 12

Plate Competition Semi-Finals
Sunnybanks 14 NT Mosquitoes 5
Negeri Sembilan Wanderers 36 Cobras 12

Ablitt Cup Semi-Finals
Penguins 33 Horowhenua-Kapiti 10
Borneo Eagles 12 South African Vipers 21

Jug Competition Final
Southern Lions 12 Casuarina Cougars 12

Bowl Competition Final
SLRFU7 19 Tamariva RFC 12

Plate Competition Final
Sunnybanks 15 Negeri Sembilan Wanderers 10

Ablitt Cup Final
Penguins 19 South African Vipers 14

For more photos go to next page