Story and pictures by Les Tan
CCAB, Monday, May 5, 2008 – The Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) beat Raffles Junior College 17-13 this afternoon in the semi-final of the National A Division Rugby Championship in a game that showed the scoring threat of ACS(I).
Raffles fired themselves up at the start with their haka rendition, and while the rest of the ACS(I) team linked up to stare down, Blandon Tan (#13) of ACS saw fit to stand apart from his teammates, at one point turning his back on the RJC team as he adjusted his scrum cap.
Perhaps that was a reflection of the confidence in the ACS team as captain Bryan Wong scored the first try as early as the 4th minute to put ACS 5-0 up. Blandon converted the try to make it 7-0. The momentum of the game then swung the way of Raffles as the guys in green and black laid siege on the ACS half, threatening and probing the ACS defense line. At one point, RJC supporters cheered what they thought was a try but the referee did not deem it a try and it was not given, much to their dismay. That sustained period of Raffles pressure finally yielded a penalty and three points but no more.
Leading 7-3, the reply from ACS to the three points given up was another try by Bryan Wong to make it 12-3 which was not converted. By this point, it was clear that the ACS team were capable of crisp passing movement and their fullbacks were a handful for the Raffles team.
The half-time whistle gave RJC time to regroup and both sets of supporters were impatient for the restart, partly due to the fact that they had to endure an emcee who announced the wrong scoreline for the earlier semi-final, all the time mangling the English language while tossing some prizes for answering inane questions.
When the second half resumed, it was all Raffles from the whistle. ACS did not get a sniff of Raffles territory for a long, sustained period while the RJC boys just camped in their half. The pressure eventually paid off with a try by a Raffles forward Christopher Fang which was unconverted even though it was from a favourable angle and distance. Raffles now trailed 8-12 and it was game on.
The answer from ACS was swift in timing and execution. Joshua Rene Jeyaraj found enough space on the right wing to squeeze through for a try. Blandon missed the conversion from a tight angle but ACS now led 17-8.
And still it was not over. Raffles continued their fight, never giving up and continued attacking. They finally made ACS pay for their defensive mistakes when their forward Ashvin Raju (#14) went over for a try to make it 13-17. They were now only a try down with ten minutes to go.
Both teams were still up for the battle in the final moments and a drop kick attempt from 15m out by an ACS player hit the left upright. As time wound down and with their supporters willing them on, neither team could put any more points on the board. When the final whistle went, there were no ecstatic celebrations from the ACS team while in the Raffles camp, heads hung low for a bit, but no one slumped defeated to the ground. This is the first year since 1989 that RJC will not contest an A Division Championship final.
Said ACS(I) Coach Adrian Chong after the game: “We showed that we can score tries from anywhere. We have a good balance between backs and forwards.”
“I think they played well. They gave us a good fight,” said ACS(I) captain Bryan Wong on RJC. “Kudos to them for fighting back from 12-3 to 17-13. I think they displayed the true rugby spirit with their undying passion and fire which is very much commendable. We came into the game fully aware that Raffles were strong so we expected a tight game, and this is what we got. We gave our 100% and weren’t affected much about the scoreline; we played to the best of our abilities knowing our potential. However, it was testing of our faith both amongst our team mates and in God. During the last few minutes of the game, we were only leading by a mere 17-13 and that meant that a try scored by Raffles would seal the win for them. Despite this, we held firm to our beliefs and gave our all in the last moments, and by God’s grace, we pulled through with the win.”
ACS(I) will now face St Andrew’s Junior College in the final next Monday, May 12, at the Padang. Game time is 4:30 p.m. (as indicated in the comments section).
Ed’s note: If you recognise the players, feel free to leave their names in the comments section. More pictures in the gallery.
#ashvin raju – rjc
try on the wing scored by ashvin raju #14
rj try scored by christopher fang no 17
“Thats just the way contact sports go. No punt intended to anyone / any school.”
And what is “no punt intended…”????
Do you mean, ‘no PUN intended’.
“Rugby Mom: Just stick to cooking for your boy can you? ”
That was utterly uncalled for.
Rugby Mom: Just stick to cooking for your boy can you?
There are more than punches that go on in rugby, in fact, in any sport. If sports people can handle the heat, then stick to playing something like Chess / Scrabble.
Thats just the way contact sports go. No punt intended to anyone / any school.
Sorry I meant boxing.
There’s only one school in Singapore that does rugby as far as I know – and it aint Raffles or AC- it’s St. Andrew’s School.
It would be interesting to see Les’s shot after Photo 12 of the ‘try’.
According to the rules of the game, he does have time to put downward pressure on the tryline with the ball.
From where we were standing if looked like a definite try, and we were directly in front where the soccer goal posts were.
rj were sore losers.go join boxing instead since you guys cant play rugby.hmmm but then again maybe you guys will lose in boxing.haha.
As a Raffles alumnus myself, I was rather disappointed and ashamed at a couple of the RJC players who were punching ACSI players on several occasions to the disgust and shock of the spectators. And this, surreptitiously done behind the referee’s back and when the rj coach was busily engaging the linesman. I wonder what happened to their sportsmanship and fair play? Is winning so paramount, even at the expense of a good school’s reputation? the linesman couldnt execute a proper job due to the persistant annoyance of d rj coach! He should have warned the rj coach, how about red-carding him as in some other sports. Harassment of refereeing officials on duty should not be let off lightly. Would someone care to ensure such behaviour not recur!
On a lighter note, I commend the RJC players for their fighting-spirit and a good game. However, there can only be 1 winner, and this time, a better team has won- TO HIS GLORY!
A Division Rugby Semi-Final
AC Family’s dream of an all AC final did not materialize at CCAB yesterday. In the end, the two better teams won. Congratulations to SAJC and ACSI! Both the semi-finals were exciting but the qualities of the games were not there.
In the first game SAJC was smart to play the referee and capitalize on ACJC’s mistakes. SAJC’s backline was quick to cross the off-side line whenever the referee’s back was turned. That advantage allowed them to clamp down ACJC’s backline. SAJC’s forwards played well. They won many line-outs against the throws and were able to pick up many loose balls from ACJC’s throw in the scrums. ACJC’s forwards were in confusion in the line-outs. On numerous occasions, the referee had to call their players to rejoin the line-outs. ACJC’s kept using four men line-outs even though it was not working well.
In the second semi-final, RJC’s tactics were obvious from the very start. Their two main strategies were to use their forwards as battling ram and for their coach to engage the match official, the lineman all the time. The RJC’s coach was following the lineman like a faithful dog following its master. It set tongues wagging that the RJC’s coach was trying to influence the lineman. Many in the stand were wondering why the lineman did not ask the RJC’s coach to move away from him.
ACSI’s backline was able to provide some brilliant running in an otherwise not so pretty game. An old RI boy expressed that he was “disgusted and ashamed" with RJC’s number 17 & 28. They were more interested in boxing than rugby. RJC’s 28 was punching away at ACSI players from the side of the scrum in front of the stand and lineman. Somehow the lineman was talking to the RJC’s coach and did not see it; while the referee was at the other side of the scrum.
At the end of the evening, it was heartening to see the true spirit of rugby prevailing. A RJC’s player joined some ACSI’s players for a snack of chicken; provided for by some ACSI’s parents. One SAJC’s player while making his way out of the stadium stopped and chatted with some RJC’s and ACSI’s players.
so much for an AC final hahahahahaha
Hi, ACSians and friends may like to visit this site for more pictures of the semi-final match between ACS(I) and RJC. The site will take a few minutes to load due to the high volume of pictures:
sportingspirit.blogspot.com
rj rugby did very well
good fight by RJ! they are not very good losers though, maybe because they don’t lose very often. is there going to be an article on AC vs SA?
RJC Players:
Photo 1 – Leonard Yap (ball-carrier)
Photo 2 – Leonard Yap (passer)
Photo 4 – Muhd Nabhan (#12)
Photo 5 – Poh You Kai (tackler)
Photo 7 – Mohd Anwaar (captain)
Photo 9 – Muhd Nabhan (kicker)
Photo 10 – Poh You Kai (ball-carrier)
Photo 12 + 13 – Christopher Fang (ball-carrier)
i thought kickoff time is 4.30pm?
photo 2: AC boy on the left is Doug Wong, AC boy on the right is Shane Gan
photo 2: AC boy in the middle, Tim Gay.
photo 4: AC boy is Eric Ong
photo 6: AC boy is Ian Gan
photo 8: Eric ong, not sure, victor tan
photo 11: AC boy, Ian Gan, punts away.