By Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports

National C Division Rugby Championship St. Andrew's Secondary vs ACS(I)

Morgan Owain Rhys (#10) of St. Andrew’s Secondary takes a penalty against Anglo-Chinese School (Independent). (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)

PESEB, Monday, July 6, 2015 — A penalty by Morgan Owain Rhys (#10) was the difference in deciding St. Andrew’s Secondary’s victory in their opening game of the National C Division Rugby Championship.

The three points helped the Saints overcome closest rivals Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) for the 15–12 victory, sending a clear message to the defending champions that they were not to be taken lightly.

In 2014, ACS(I) were the superior team and had their own way with the Saints, as they clinched easy 73–0 and 28–8 victories in the preliminaries and final respectively.

The storyline was otherwise in this game.

Uncharacteristic of defending champions, ACS(I) allowed the Saints, who were led by their agile right wing Miguel William (#14), charge to a 12–0 first half lead.

ACS(I) did not flinch and regrouped during the break. They responded with their own 12–0 run in the opening minutes of the second half, capped off by a conversion by Aran Willetts (#12).

The Saints battled through the deadlock and earned themselves three penalties through ACS(I)’s mistakes. With their momentum seemingly lost, fly half Morgan Owain Rhys (#10) missed the first, then the second. Fortunately, he converted the third and helped the Saints regain the lead, albeit by a slim three-point margin.

With about five minutes remaining, the defending champions scrambled for another try, but the Saints managed to stand their ground and hold on for the win.

“A win is a win, and we need to put this behind us, focus, continue to train hard for the next game and aim for the final,” said Saints captain Umar Sha’ari (#12).

He added, “We were too complacent and allowed ACS(I) to come back, but that woke us up and I think the team did well in closing out the game.”

St. Andrew’s will next face St. Joseph’s Institution at 3pm. on Friday, July 10, while ACS(I) will go up against Raffles Institution at 3pm. on Monday, July 13. Both games will be played at PESEB.

Score by half
St. Andrew’s vs ACS(I)
1st half: 12–0
2nd half: 3–12 (15–12)

Scorers
St. Andrew’s
Chua Wei Li (#4) – 1 try
Umar B Mohamed Sha’ari (#12) – 1 try
Morgan Owain Rhys (#10) – 1 penalty and 1 conversion

ACS(I)
Richard Goo Zheng Wei (#7) – 1 try
Lim Dao Yuan Matthew (#20) – 1 try
Aran James Willetts (#12) – 1 conversion

St. Andrew’s Roster
Lum Weisiong, Jeremy (#1), Ang Seow Pinn (#2), Dimayuga Dylan Gabriel (#3), Chua Wei Li (#4), Clemen Liau Guo Yu (#5), Chong Dillion (#6), James Haaris Batt (#7), Lee Sze Yong Benjamin (#8), Brennan Ng Zheng Yang (#9), Morgan Owain Rhys (#10), Syamininurdhami B K (#11), Umar B Mohamed Sha’ari (#12), Renald Lim Sheng Yew (#13), Miguel Erwin Besoro William (#14), Khairil Ridzuan B Zulkilfee (#15), Brendon Pang Jun Ming (#16), Brandon Tan Yu Xuan (#17), Nigel Lim Fang Xiang (#18), James Leow Tze Ning (#19), Julian Leow Tze An (#20), Aidil Ryan B Muhammad Affenddy (#21), Mika’il Yue B Istiandra (#22), Mohamad Irfan B Mohamad Nassir (#23), Dylan Tay Hao Yi (#24), Daryl Liau Guo Zhi (#25), Ethan Lee Junxian (#26), Kremer Alexander Han Lin (#27), Mohammad Putra Wafaa B R (#28)

ACS(I) Roster
Elijah Ho Teng Loong (#1), Ira Teh Jia Le (#2), Ang Wei Sheng, Bryan (#3), Joshua Tan Kai Shenn (#5), Reuben Sivadas Ruixian (#6), Richard Goo Zheng Wei (#7), Elroy Irwan Jahja-Loo (#8), Khoo Shen Yi, Stuart Dylan (#9), Teng Ivan, Lucas (#10), Goh Jing Hao Timothy (#11), Aran James Willetts (#12), Finan Siow (#13), Jason Tan Jun Hao (#14), Sean Tan Jun Kai (#15), Chang You-Sheng, Ethan (#16), Kwan Ean Fung, Ian (#17), Ong Li-Sheng (#18), Sean Ng Shi Wen (#19), Lim Dao Yuan Matthew (#20), Andrius Wong Jun Long (#21), Joshua Amarjeet Magherra (#22), Huang Jing Yu (#23), Tan Soon Kang, William (#24), Tan Jern Yu Timothy (#26), Lim Hongxi (#28), Muhammad Aiman B Mohammad Azhar (#32), Muhammad Kiane Rashidale (#36), Timothy Chan (#45)

National C Division Rugby Championship — Fixtures and results

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