B Div Rugby: ACS(I) see off RI 25-0

By Adrian Tan/Red Sports

Republic Polytechnic, February 21, 2012 — Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) beat perennial rivals Raffles Institution (RI) 25-0 in the 2012 National Schools B Division Rugby Championship.

The game took on extra meaning for RI because they had lost their previous game against Saint Andrew’s Secondary 22-10 and they were keen to avoid their second defeat in a row.

ACS(I) came to the match with a 3-0 win-loss record, with Match Day 4 postponed because of lightning and inclement weather, and were keen to keep their good run going.

The match kicked off 15 minutes late because of lightning. When the teams took the field, it was ACS(I) who drew first blood early on, when #8 man, Richard Keim, stormed across the line to make the score 5-0. Play then became rather scrappy as both teams gave away balls from lost lineouts and scrums, as well as dropped balls and forward passes.

ACS(I) increased their lead to 8-0 from a penalty, which RI conceded for offside, and the score remained the same at half-time.

In the second half, RI quickly swung into action. For the first eight minutes of the second half, they pressed incessantly and were metres away from the ACS(I) try line before they lost the ball in a counter-ruck. From the turnover, ACS(I) scored a breakaway try through captain Matthew Quek (#14), which was summarily converted by stand-off, Joshua Chan (#15). That took the wind out of the sails of the RI team, and they were on the back foot after that.

In another quick break, winger Daniel Ho combined well with Richard to score from a sumptuous grubber into the end zone. A delightful conversion by Joshua from the wing, made the score 22-0.

Minutes later, Joshua capped off an outstanding display when he added three more points to the tally, when RI conceded another penalty, bringing the score to 25-0.

By then, it was time to ring in the substitutions for both teams. The game quietly fizzled to an end, with neither team making much inroads into the opponents half.

The win gives ACS(I) a 4-0 record while RI drop to 2-2.

In another game, St Andrew’s continued their unbeaten run with a 25-10 victory over ACS (Barker Road). The Saints are a perfect 4-0 while ACS(BR) are 2-1.

The top four teams in Group A will move on to the Cup semi-finals.

National B Division Rugby Championship — fixtures and results