Defending champs Singapore Poly trounce Republic

RUGBY

Polytechnic-Institute of Technical Education (POL-ITE) Games 2007/2008
Singapore Polytechnic vs Republic Polytechnic
Tuesday, 4 December 07, 6:00pm at Yio Chu Kang Stadium

Story by Muhammad Hannan. Pictures by Shaun Chook.

Singapore Polytechnic (SP) trounced Republic Polytechnic (RP) 38-9 in their opening game of the POL-ITE Rugby Championship last week.

RP’s fly-half Husain tackled 5m from his own goal line. © Shaun Chook

Anyone who has followed POL-ITE rugby will tell you that Singapore Polytechnic's pack of national age-group players would have an easy time against minnows Republic Polytechnic. But it was not to be as Republic managed to rack up some points this year.

The game started brightly and the scent of arrogance from the Singapore Polytechnic players were evident as their substitutes were rowdy right from the start. Singapore Polytechnic kicked off and were fast to close down Republic Polytechnic's receiver who was brought to ground for a ruck. Republic opted to kick the ball out to safety from the ruck.

From the line-out, Singapore Polytechnic fed the ball to their backs who did damage as Republic found it hard to contain them. An opportunity arose for Singapore Polytechnic standoff Rex to unleash his trademark cross kick. Without hesitation, he kicked towards the left flag post, catching Republic's fullback, Kenneth, off-guard and he struggled to get across the width of the entire pitch to chase the kick which was easily caught by national age-group winger, Ryan, who ran in for an easy try. The conversion by Rex however went astray and the score remained at 5-0.

Singapore Polytechnic's second try came not long after off a scrum when #8 Ashraf picked the ball off the back of the scrum and dived over between the scrum-half and standoff. The conversion this time around was successful from Rex to make it 12-0.

Rex of SP executes a trademark cross kick. © Shaun Chook

Republic Polytechnic continued to struggle when they failed to win their own line-out as Singapore Polytechnic's jumper stole the ball to set-up a maul. The driving maul to the Republic goal line proved too much for RP as SP's Amir went over for his team’s third try. The conversion from Rex was again successful. 19-0 to SP.

With SP ahead on three tries barely 20 minutes into the game, frustration started to creep into RP as they were using excessive force with the foot to clear the men in the ruck. Tempers flared as pushing and shoving turned to punches. The referee controlled the game well and gave a stern warning to both teams. The game restarted with a scrum to Singapore Polytechnic but five phases on, SP were unable to convert their territorial advantage into points. SP's emotion got the better of them as they started shoving the RP players over minor incidents. Punches started flying with malice and the referee had to stop the game temporarily. Yellow cards were shown to SP’s Pi Xiang and RP’s Sasi.

With both teams down to 14 players, they started to play more running rugby. From a line-out, SP swung the ball out to their backs and their draw-and-pass tactics got them into space and another easy run for Ryan to add another try to his name. The conversion was converted by Rex and the first half ended with SP leading 26-0.

The second half started better for RP as they were awarded a handful of penalties due to SP's ill-discipline. RP had a good break down the middle when fly-half Husain ran past the entire SP defence only to be brought down by SP winger Ryan. The resulting ruck gifted RP their first penalty of the second half when SP players played with the ball off their feet. RP scrum-half Eugene saw his penalty attempt fall short to the delight of the SP players who counter-attacked.

RP jumper stretches long for the ball. © Shaun Chook

SP fullback Marah Fahmy was brought down close to the half way line and gave away a penalty when he failed to release the ball once he was on the ground. This time, RP kicker Eugene made no mistake with his second penalty attempt taken from a whopping 40m out to make it 3-26.

SP players started to lose their composure as they gave away more penalties, this time for a hands-in-the-ruck offence. Kicking from 30m out, RP kicker Eugene again made no mistake as his effort sailed past the inside of the post. The scoreline was now looking a little more respectable at 6-26.

SP were determined to get another try as they ran riot with many phase plays only to have their forwards falling short of the line for the try. A scrum was then awarded to RP 5m out from their goal line. The RP scrum-half passed out the ball to Hossein who was quickly charged down and isolated. SP forced a turnover and SP substitute forward Fuad got over for the try. Conversion was kicked successfully by Farhan to make 33-6.

As the game wore on, RP were awarded two more penalties, converting one and missing one to make the score 9-33. RP scrum-half was kicking very well considering the distance of his kicks.

A turnover ball gives SP’s scrum-half a run at RP’s defence. © Shaun Chook

However, SP managed another try at the end of the game when a kick and a chase from RP fullback Kenneth left the back empty. SP's Marah Fahmy caught the kick and chase and instantaneously kicked for the far right corner. SP’s Julius flew down the left flank to collect the ball and scored another easy try to make the final score 38-9.

Said SP coach Sam Chan of his team's performance: " The first team’s structure was really good. Their breakdown management was good." Of the second half penalties to RP, Coach Chan added: "The problems started once the reserves were put on. Players were not doing their job and as a result other players had to cover them, putting the goal line at risk. Therefore, some of the infringements were forced errors."

Republic Polytechnic’s Eugene was the man of the match with his outstanding kicking. "His penalty kick attempts were a joy to watch. I've not seen successful penalty attempts from that distance at this level of play." said a spectator at the game.

Singapore Polytechnic - 38
Tries: Ryan (2), Ashraf, Amir, Fuad, Julius.
Conversions: Rex (3), Farhan.
Yellow Cards: Pi Xiang

Republic Polytechnic - 9
Penalties: Eugene (3)
Yellow Cards: Sasi

More pictures in the gallery.