Story contributed by reader Paul Kung. Pictures by Les Tan/Red Sports.
CCAB, Monday, May 5, 2008 – St Andrew’s Junior College came from behind three times to beat Anglo-Chinese Junior College 20-11 yesterday in the first semi-final of the National A Division Rugby Championship. After their 2007 failure to retain their 2006 title, St Andrew’s Junior College overcame their underdog tag to score an unexpected victory.
Many pundits were predicting an all Anglo-Chinese final, and at the start, it looked like they were going to be right. ACJC took the ball strongly from the opening kickoff, and after some great kicking and harassing from ACJC playmaker Mhd Asmi, ACJC led 5 -0 after just two minutes of play.
Many Saints supporters feared the worst, but the SAJC players showed their school’s fabled fighting spirit and came back 10 minutes later with some great forward drives off the line out. One such drive saw SAJC move some 40 meters from the halfway line into ACJC territory. Off this devastating drive, the Saints forwards pounded away, creating a path for a smooth backline score by winger Abel Teo, allowing Saints to pull level at 5-5.
A well-taken penalty kick from Asmi put ACJC in a slim lead going into half time at 8-5. The ACJC huddle at the half looked calm and collected, and there was a quiet confidence that this was their game. The Saints huddle had a strong sense of urgency, and a quiet resolve was slowly emerging.
The second half started badly for the Saints however, with winger Abel Teo launching a wobbly clearance which saw ACJC almost extend their lead. Desperate defending by the Saints held off the attack, but their back three were still not handling the pin-point kicking of ACJC’s Asmi and fly-half Mandeep Singh well. Asmi started to run off the rucks to try and create space, but was time and time again driven back by the determined Saints defense. The Saints forwards were clearly winning the battle up front, and ACJC’s loss of their Number 8 early in the first half was evident.
From the platform set up by their forward counterparts, the Saints backs launched another attack, which saw winger Roy Tong outpace 2 defenders for an unconverted try in the corner to make it 10-8 in favour of the Saints. This was sweet revenge for Roy, having been spurned by ACJC just a few years ago.
Again, ACJC came back at the Saints. Asmi once again put ACJC in front with another penalty conversion, nudging his team 11-10 in front. The Saints then won a penalty and up stepped Kenn Wong, who had missed his last 2 attempts in the game. This time, he slotted the ball through for a 13-11 Saints lead.
With time ticking away, SAJC desperately tried to hold on to the slim lead. Good defending at the rucks and mauls saw possession go their way very often. A key moment came when ACJC’s Jonah Wee was cited a yellow card for a repeated offence on SAJC winger Abel Teo, taking the player out after the kick.
With 3 minutes to go, SAJC were awarded a penalty after another forward drive at the ACJC 22m line. SAJC Captain Arthur Lim took the ball and instead of opting for the points, suffered what many call a ‘brain explosion’, launching a hopeful kick cross field for his winger. The ball was recovered by ACJC, but they failed to capitalize.
Time was ticking, and a scrum was awarded to ACJC on their own 5m line, providing one last chance to launch an attack. However, brilliant harassment off the base of the scrum by SAJC half back Chan Ming Qi saw Asmi deliver a poor pass to Mandeep who had flanker Darrell Low in his face. The ball went through his legs, and up came SAJC’s Mhd Farid to touch the ball down in the try zone with the tip of his fingers. There were some disputes over the legitimacy of the try, but the Saints got the favourable call and with Kenn Wong’s conversion, the final whistle went and SAJC celebrated a final place with a 20-11 victory.
“It’s just amazing, an indescribable feeling,” said Roy Tong, commenting on his try after the game. “Especially since I was playing against my ex-schoolmates in ACS(Barker). My first thought when I got the ball was ‘Go for the try!'”
It was a happy day for the Saints, especially after their semi-final exit at the recent B Division Championship. The Saints definitely need a lot of work if they are to contend with Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) in the final, but if the pool game encounter was any yardstick, it will be a great final. Captain Arthur Lim will be leading the Saints to hopefully regain their title lost in 2007. For him, it will be his second appearance in the final for SAJC, having won it in 2006 for the Saints.
So my prediction for the winner? Statistically you would have to favor ACS(I), but after their passionate display, you cannot count the Saints out. In the end, it was the tough and rugged Saints forward pack that was the difference, and the battle upfront will be the key.
Ed’s note: If you recognise the players, feel free to leave their names in the comments section with reference to the photo number. More pictures in the gallery.
chill la bros! its just rugby man! in the game i understand all the htred. but after the game frens la! haha
the guy in jeans next to kenn is RICO! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
hey,wise-up,i think u are the one that need to wise-up.saints and james can speak their mind.so u have no right to criticise them.
SHAME ON U!
to James n saints boys:
d ‘boooo to saints fm anon’ is an insidious attempt to incite hatred and animosity btw SA n ACS Family. U mean to say after anon had posted several incoherent comments at all sites, some condemning SA, while others at ACS , u guys dun realise he is a blatant stirrer. Or r u all in this conspiracy together?
We ACSians are loyal to our own and the bond so strong no outsiders can comprehend. We dun condemn our own . These phantoms of deception r easily singled out….’ y dont u all jus die and be buried!’
Such underhanded and contemptuous behaviour can only come fm a traitor no less.
SHAME ON U ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!
who’s that guy in jeans on the field next to kenn wong while he was kicking
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.
i think we should all stop talking about punches here and kicks there. i mean, its RUGBY!! and there are bound to be some that some people notice and others don’t, so its no point highlighting it so blatantly, eh? kudos to Saints and the ACJC team, exciting match!
anon you said,”BOOOO SAINTS . SAME OLD SHIT AGAIN”. There, you said it, i dont like it, i think you should be responsible for what you have said and post an apology.
sirhan is #11
Anon please grow up. Don’t be a sore loser.
“…poor pass to Mandeep who had flanker Darrell Low…”
photo 1: #Sirhan, #6 Daniel Lum, #16 Farid
photo 2: scrumhalf Chan Mingqi, saint on the right Sam
photo 9: Chan Mingqi, Daniel Chua
im not roy,im just a loyal supporter from sajc.dont get me wrong
saints are deserving for their win. but roy, stop putting on an act. youre not the mvp of the game, dont act like one. when you lost to ac previously you walked away without a sound, now that saint has won doesn give you the right to be some proud ass.
acjc is no longer the pinaccle of sporting talent and success.
well, the results speaks for itself. UP AND ON! SAINTS!
shut up anon,u must be from acjc.we won fair and square, suck it up and dont be a sore loser
Well done Roy.
Roy is a respectful ex-ACS (BR) player. Never fails to greet his ex-coaches from ACS every time he plays even wearing the SA jersey.
… what with that BOOO both play well
haha good on saints! anon don’t be a sore loser.
BOOOO SAINTS . SAME OLD SHIT AGAIN