C Division Rugby: ACS(BR) edge out defending champs RI 24-19

By Adrian Tan/Red Sports

c div rugby

RI defend their try line. (Photo 1 © Adrian Tan/Red Sports)

Yio Chu Kang, Monday, July 11, 2011 — Defending champions Raffles Institution (RI) suffered their first defeat of the season when they went down 19-24 to Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road).

Playing on the lush greens of the Yio Chu Kang Stadium, ACS (Barker) drew first blood, converting a penalty to take a 3-0 lead. RI responded in typical Rafflesian fashion, storming over the line twice to take a 14-3 lead, before ACS countered with a try of their own and converting it successfully to make the score 14-10 to Raffles at half time.

In the second half, the hot weather appeared to take the sting out of RI’s play. ACS (Barker), sensing the opportunity, scored from a scrum at the RI 22 meter line, and made the conversion to lead 17-14.

RI attacked relentlessly, and were rewarded with a brilliantly worked try with some 15 minutes to go. They missed the conversion but still led 19-17.

It was then ACS (Barker)’s turn to rally from behind. They hounded the RI defence persistently, causing RI to make mistakes and knock-ons.

It was from one of these scrums that led to the game winning try for ACS (Barker) right in the corner which was brilliantly converted by their kicker, to give them a 24-19 lead with less than 10 minutes to go.

Raffles probed and searched for the the equaliser. Needing at least a try to square the game, they were given multiple penalties which they elected to pick up and run, only to run into a never ending wall of blue and gold.

When, referee Harry Mason, who had a good game, blew for the final whistle, the crowd rose to give a standing ovation to both teams, in particular to the ACS (Barker) team who had bounced back from their 0-7 defeat to St Joseph’s Institution earlier in the season, to record this famous victory.

Match Result
ACS (Barker) 24 RI 19

National C Division Rugby Championship — full fixtures and results

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