A Division Rugby: ACS(I) upset SAJC 15-11 to win title

Story by Adrian Tan. Photos by Adrian Tan, Vanessa Lim/Red Sports and Marvin Lowe/Red Sports

Home Team Academy, Tuesday, May 10, 2011 — Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) beat St Andrew’s Junior College 15-11 to capture the National A Division Rugby Championship title.

Saints had defeated ACS(I) 11-0 in the preliminary round and were the marginal favorites to take the championship.

After Saints had performed their traditional Haka dance, ACS (I) kicked off the match. From the opening whistle, it was clear that the game would be a war of attrition with few scoring opportunities, and the team making the fewest mistakes and able to make the most of their opportunities would emerge victorious.

ACS(I) took the lead 10 minutes in when their number 8, James Morgan, converted a penalty from the left of the post after missing a harder one just minutes earlier. Saints hit back almost immediately, when they breached the ACS(I) backline to score the opening try of the game. Saints missed the conversion but now led 5-3.

Following a slew of missed penalties — two by ACS(I) and one by Saints — the teams went into the break with the Saints holding a slim 5-3 lead.

In the second half, ACS(I) missed another kick at goal before Saints increased their lead with a penalty two minutes after that. That penalty seemed to spark the ACS(I) team to life. They went on the offensive and were rewarded with a penalty at the Saints 5-metre line. Number 8 James Morgan took the penalty quickly before Saints could react, and went over next to the corner flag. Calvin Ying (#10) had taken over kicking duties by then and narrowly missed the conversion from next to the 22m flag. Score: 8-8.

With 10 minutes to go, Saints had a put in for a scrum some 10m from the ACS(I) tryline. When the ball came out, Saints had the crowd buzzing when their standoff coolly slotted home a drop goal from about 20m out, which curled in just inside the right goal post, giving Saints an 11-8 lead.

Just when you thought that ACS(I) were out for the count, they upped a gear and marched the ball down the Saints half. From a penalty lineout, Calvin Ying (#10) received the ball, evaded a couple of desperate lunges and touched down for a try just next to the left goal post. He then dusted himself down and coolly took the conversion successfully for ACS(I) to lead 15-11.

With four minutes to play, Saints went for broke, attacking relentlessly but the ACS(I) lads held their line. ACS(I) conceded two penalties in succession, but needing a try to win, Saints elected to run the ball, but to no avail.

The referee, who had a good game, then blew for time, sending many of the boys in blue and gold onto their knees in tears of joy while the disappointment on the Saints was plain to see. They played their hearts out, and they had nothing to be ashamed off. For now, ACS(I) had earned the right to call themselves champions.

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