By REDintern Chan Hui Mui

Defending champion Raffles Institution topped Group A with ease, winning all their games by more than 50 points. RI thrashed Innova JC and Pioneer JC 72-19 and 72-14 respectively, and toppled Nanyang JC 102-13.

Pioneer JC entered the second round as runner-up after beating Nanyang JC and Innova JC 47-38 and 52-38 respectively.

In Group B, no team seemed to be of any threat to Anglo-Chinese JC, who were hitting the 80-point mark in almost every game. Temasek JC was the only team that could stop ACJC from achieving this feat in their encounter, but were still no match for them, losing 20-55. ACJC thrashed Catholic JC 81-20 and knocked out Meridian JC 81-12/ ACJC also handed Tampines JC a 84-13 defeat.

In the crucial match for second place, Temasek JC triumphed over Catholic JC 34-21 to enter the second round as runners-up of Group B.

The teams in Group C underwent an intensive battle with Victoria JC, Jurong JC and Anderson JC having a close fight for the runners-up position. None of the matches between them had more than a 5-point margin.

All three teams did not give group leaders Hwa Chong Institution an easy time too. Hwa Chong barely edged past Victoria JC 33-30, but they beat Jurong JC 49-29 and cruised past Anderson JC 51-36.

Anderson JC narrowly beat Jurong JC and Victoria JC 41-39 and 38-34 respectively to take a spot in the second round. Victoria JC defeated Jurong JC 36-34 in their encounter.

In Group D, Serangoon JC surprised the crowd with their performance, losing to St Andrew’s JC, who finished third runner-up in last year’s championship, by only 10 points, 49-59.

The other two teams in the group did not pose any threat to Serangoon JC and St Andrew’s JC.

SAJC beat Millenia Institute and National JC 53-19 and 69-12 respectively to wrap up first place in the group, while Serangoon JC triumphed over National JC and MI 49-27 and 46-29 respectively to create history for their school by qualifying for the second round.

In the second round grouping, Group X will consist of Hwa Chong Institution, Anglo-Chinese JC, Pioneer JC and dark horse Serangoon JC.

Group Y will consist of Anderon JC, Temasek JC, RI and St Andrew’s JC.

Catch the girls in action next Monday, 4 May onwards as the curtains open for the second round.