Story by Iman Hashim/Red Sports. Photos by Les Tan/Red Sports.
Edward Hui (#25) breaking through the RI line. (Photo 1 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Evans Road, Thursday, May 19, 2016 — Traditional heavyweights Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) [ACS(I)] easily dispatched Raffles Institution (RI) 36-3 to claim their third National A Division Rugby Championship title on the trot.
It is also ACS(I)’s sixth title out of eight finals contested, since their inclusion in the A Division championship in 2007.
ACS(I) were invincible during the preliminary round, winning each of their six matches by at least a 36-point margin. They even scored more than 80 points against three of their opponents, activating the mercy rule.
When ACS(I) and RI met earlier in the preliminary round, ACS(I) had seen off the tie 36-0.
In the semi-finals, ACS(I) had defeated Anglo-Chinese Junior College 45-5 while RI held off Saint Andrew’s Junior College 11-5.
From the get-go, ACS(I)’s superiority was apparent, as the RI players, most of whom were playing in their first final in six years of representing the school, stood no chance.
As early as the third minute, ACS(I) scored their first try.
Scrum cap-clad Lim Shern (#22) got on the end of a solid team move with the ball passed down swiftly to the extreme right flank, as he went for the try after a quick change of pace.
Centre Alexander Seow (#12) stepped up to convert despite the tight angle, making it 7-0.
ACS(I) continued surging into RI’s 22-yard line, and they made it 12-0 on 13 minutes with a brilliant solo try by winger Daniel Ho (#14). Daniel ran all the way from his own half, displaying good footwork on the right flank as he weaved past onrushing RI players, before going for the try himself.
Alexander (#12) this time missed the conversion, but he redeemed himself just three minutes later with a try himself.
It came from a dazzling solo run by centre Edward Hui (#25), who managed to break through from the middle of the pitch. Edward eventually got tackled a few yards from the try-line, and from the ensuing ruck, another series of passes led to Alexander (#12) receiving the ball on the right, then using his burly frame to power himself over for the try.
Lim Shern (#22) took over kicking duties, converting to make it 19-0.
Before the half-time whistle came, ACS(I) claimed their fourth try. From a line-out on the left, flanker Jason Goh (#7) managed to wriggle out of the subsequent struggle for possession, as he darted into the try-zone and had the time to divert more centrally to touch the ball down.
Alexander (#12) had no problem converting, as ACS(I) went into the break with a commanding 26-0 lead.
After the restart, RI looked to salvage some pride as they resolutely pegged ACS(I) back in their own half.
RI got their reward when centre Christopher Mak (RI #23) successfully kicked a penalty through the posts to reduce the deficit (26-3).
But just seconds later, ACS(I) extended their advantage via Lim Shern (#22) with his second and ACS(I)’s fifth try (31-3). Lim Shern himself stepped up to kick the conversion, but missed.
Thereafter, RI had the larger share of possession, but failed to break through and create a clear-cut try-scoring opportunity.
Just before the final whistle was blown, ACS(I) put the icing on the cake with their sixth try. Hooker Tuang Rui Shan (#2), with his massive frame, shook off several tackles but was eventually brought down, and prop Bryan Foo (#16) received the ball from the ruck and forced himself over the try-line.
Roy Woo (#10) failed to convert his kick, but ACS(I) came out comfortable 36-3 victors.
On his post-match thoughts, ACS(I)’s Alexander Seow (#12) remarked, “I think we came out strong, and we really just kept it up throughout the whole game, and overall I’m quite satisfied with the result.”
“Personally, I’m really happy. I started playing rugby about 12 years ago, and I guess it’s really a great way to end my schoolboy rugby career.”
When asked if there was any difference in mentality going into this final from their previous meeting with RI, he said, “Yes of course, it was different. Generally in rugby, the preliminary rounds are always different from the finals, the final is always a lot more intense. I think RI put up a great fight. The fact that we managed to come out with a somewhat similar result, it really shows that we managed to put in the proper preparation and went into the game with the correct mindset.”
On retaining ACS(I)’s domination in the sport, he continued, “I’m really glad that we managed to continue this legacy, A Division is really a special tournament to us. It’s also the last time that we’d be playing for our school, so to be able to win it two times in a row, I’m just really happy and glad to be part of the legacy.”
Anglo-Chinese Junior College beat St. Andrew’s Junior College 15-10 to finish third, while Catholic Junior College saw off Millennia Institute 25-7 to win the Plate final.
Score By Half
ACS(I) vs RI
1st Half: 26-0
2nd Half: 10-3 (36-3)
ACS(I) Roster
Joshua Lim Jun Yi (#1), Tuang Rui Shan (#2), Lee Tat Wei (#3), Nunis Mikael Keith (#4), Daniel Chris Lee Zi Ern (#5), Roy Woo Ming En (#10), Glenn Lee Jia Song (#23), Daniel Ho Chia Chun (#14), Jason Goh Jien Feung (#7), Lucas Tay Yi-En (#11), Joshua Goh Kiat Jwei (#13), Edward Hui Xian Wei (#25), Dan Yuet Yau (#8), Darrell Ou Wai Yan (#6), Alexander Seow Kai Liang (#12), Bryan Foo (#16), Philip John Duggan (#24), Ethan Ho Teng Yang (#15), Jeremy Choy Yi Xiang (#9), Eithan Irwan Jahja-Loo (#19), Kai Kiran Gosian (#27), Siew Hao Ren (#26), Darren Chia Minjian (#18), Kitiarsa Tantham (#21), Lim Shern (#22), Joshua Lee Keng Yong (#20), Joshua Chia Teck Yeung (#29), Thomas Michel Lim Zhixiang (#28)
RI Roster
Ivar Johann Lassesen (#6), Fang Juntao (#1), Koh Teng Chun (#4), Hu Kewei (#24), Christopher Mak Jun-Min (#23), Sean Lee Ren Yi (#20), Harish Rai (#10), Isaac Goh Tze Hng (#9), Zhu Hong Yi (#18), Hazim B Fathul Rahman (#16), Brandon Yeo Xuan Zhi (#18), Nicholas Wong Hoi Pong (#21), Richie Chan Yun Xue (#7), Nathanael Muk Chen Han (#17), Anwar B Kamarul-Zaman (#11), Jeff Chen Yong Jie (#25), Ryan Leong Lup Mun (#15), Kasim B Abdul Razak, Muhammad Adil Akmal B Jailani (#3), Muhammad Syazwan B Ramli (#2), Fabien Wee Rui-An (#8), Tan Wei Han (#13), Soh Qi Xu (#11), Zakir Nasruddin B Zairul A, Muhammad Fa’iz B Bakhtiar (#14)
National A Division Rugby Championship – fixtures and results
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