RUGBY
National ‘A’ Division Semifinal
Raffles Junior College vs St Andrew’s Junior College
Wednesday, 16 May 2007 at the old Police Academy
Picture story and comments by Red Sports reader Mr Joshua Tan, an ACS old boy. Now isn’t that nice of an ACS old boy to contribute pictures for a game not involving his own school? Thanks, Joshua!
Raffles Junior College (RJC) held off a strong fight back from St Andrew’s Junior College (SAJC) to win 24-15 and earn a championship final place. Saints fought back from 0-12 down with their strong forwards but RJC’s backs did a lot of damage, especially their wingers. RJC will now meet Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) in the final on Wednesday, 23 May, at 4:30 pm, at the Home Team Academy, Choa Chu Kang.
Mark Sim of SAJC scores a try despite the tackles of RJC players. © Joshua Tan
An RJC player finds himself surrounded by Saints. © Joshua Tan
RJC ruggers do the haka. © Joshua Tan
yeah. it’s when everyone’s mistake get magnified.
To RJC – My appologies and thanks!
SorryIdisagree – Good point there, both packs look good, but I do have to stand firm and say that ACS(i)’s scrum technique looks ify. Think the ref warned them for boring in the scrum abt 3 times in the semis, and that to me in an indication of improper technique rather than a strong scrum, but we will see.
See u guys at the 3rd/4th as well as the finals! =)
rugby 2008. the best lineouts ive seen were from the saints, followed closely by acsi. RJ’s lineouts were given a good run for their money by their counterparts from acjc, so i think acs i have the edge. both teams have good scrum technique so it should be a matter of winnin gyour own balls here.
i do agree that blandon would be a key player for the blue and gold, and zhehan and stuart must shackle his partnership with honwei. as in all finals, i think it will boil down to the desire and heart of each team
to rugby2008,
its kenny NG, and he’s a second row lifter, not a jumper.
and kevin neo is a second row as well, not a flanker.
cheers.
lol i wonder wat hapens if a guy wears half green half yellow.den cheer fr both.
RJ no. 11 Shaun Yam, my former schoolmate,classmate,teammate in 2004!
but sorry,i’ll be supporting my alma mata ACS(I) in the finals!
Win 2005’s A-Div Champion ACJC like what you guys did last year to them, the defending Champions!
It seems that Saints Ruggers really did unleash the fighting spirit of the Saints!
Fighting back while down 12 – 0!
Saints Ruggers, you guys rocks!
UP AND ON!
Agree with you totally AJCur,
ACS (i) have a good kicker in Blandon Tan, who has a 50m range. RJ’s kicker is not too bad as well, so it will be a shootout.
Add to the fact that the Home Team Accademy (HTA) field is a little short and narrow, expect 50m kicks from any angle to come from both sides when the opportunity arises.
I have to dis agree with the match report on ACS I having a superior lineout though. Defensively they were good, but that was because ACJC had a rather weak lineout. Offensively, they lost 3 of their 12 own lineouts at my count, and had 5 unclean ones – for the rugby purist hardly a fiercesome statistic. RJC’s lineout, both on offence and defence looks solid with 2 capable jumpers in 2nd Row Kenny Ang and flanker Kevin Neo. Will be a interesting battle there in the lineout.
The key for ACS winning or losing is in centre Blandon Tan. If he is allowed to run lose, they will win it. But, and this is more a certainty as coaches know what he is capable of, if he is wraped up and contained, then ACS will have to look for a different route to the tryline.
Forwards wise, ACS will be strong and fit, although at the scrums at recent times their technique has been put to question. RJC, with its exprience and technical knowhow, will dominate here.
All in all, a hard battle, and after reviewing, my forecast is 50-50 as most Police cup finals always are. Could go either way, but even money would be on RJ.
this is a superclasico with lots of fun,excitement, and sadly controversy and grievance. I’m afraid the RJ player who’s ex AC will be the main aim of the tackling backs of AC. I’m thinking that this match will have each team scoring 3 tries,so the team whose kicking skills are better can convert penalties and conversions more effectively-as in,they kick their way to the cup
Hi All,
The player that Scored the try in the 1st pic for SA is Mark Sim.
Well, as predicted, SA did bring their fire and brimstone, but in the end were just outplayed. just payback for the 2006 win for RJ, although some found memories of that 10min comeback must have surely arisen when the saints came marching back from a 12 point deficit.
Good work saints, and I will boldly predict once again – RJ to take the cup.
Best round of semis i’ve ever seen in this A Division Competition. All 4 teams played their hearts out! Good luck to RJ and ACS (I) for the final! Will be nice to see both teams setting the field alight by doing the haka at the same time like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eGCsEQ15L4 …an awesome sight!! Thanks again to Uncle Ban Bee and the ACSOBA crew for the reports and pics.
See you all next Wednesday!
btw tnx mr wee,mr tan n mr loh
theyll feel d sense of belongin to both sch for sure.aftr all, deir rugby roots most prolly frm teir sec schs.wells.
ahaha ex sa ex ac current rj 😉
cheers
The raffles no.11 that did the most damage was an ex acsi player, shawn yam. (:
Also got 2 ex-AC wingers also. LOL. Foreign Talent.
It’s ok it’s all right!
SA SA fight fight fight!
at least we can say there is a Saint in the winning Raffles Team.
i must say that it was a match worth watching! SAINTS, you guys put up a good fight! Up and On! As we used to chant, ‘It’s ok… it’s alright… SA… SA… fight… fight… fight!’