Contributed by reader Michael Kwok
PJC and JJC engaging in a scrum. (Photo 1 © Michael Kwok)
St Andrew’s Secondary, Tueday, May 12, 2009 – The long, hard A Division rugby season finally came to a fitting climax for Jurong Junior College and Pioneer Junior College. Both teams had entered the Plate Final with outstanding track records in the group stages, a remarkable feat considering that they comprised players who had just started learning the game just a little more than a year ago.
It was PJC that came close to scoring in the early minutes of the first half. A try was disallowed as the referee ruled that the PJC player had touched the corner flag before downing the ball.
Before the dust had even settled, JJC launched a series of counter attacks and penetrated deep into the PJC 22m area, threatening to score the opening try of the match.
In fact, JJC came close to scoring at least six times, but each time it was a determined defence that saw PJC thwart these attacks. The deadlock was broken just before the stroke of halftime when JJC broke through PJC’s line and scored the opening try.
JJC missed the conversion, and had to settle for the 5-0 score heading into half time.
A rejuvenated PJC took to the field in the second half and again, piled pressure on the JJC 22m area. Attempt after attempt was warded off by JJC, and a series of handling errors by both sides saw the ball possession switch from PJC to JJC and back to PJC again.
With no particular team able to break the deadlock, it seemed that the final score would be 5-0. However, the grit and determination so characteristic of this year’s PJC team drew just rewards. A bursting run from a ruck about 15m from the JJC tryline saw PJC score a try 10 minutes from full time to level the score at 5-5.
This time, the conversion was successful and PJC took the lead at 7-5. JJC pressed forward to hunt for the winning try and there were a few close calls and a series of penalties awarded to JJC, giving them a chance to inch closer and closer to the PJC tryline.
Desperate defending and solid tackling by PJC prevented JJC from making any further tactical gains in the PJC 22m area.
When the final whistle blew, the entire arena erupted in cheers as the PJC players rushed to embrace each other in celebration of a hard-fought but well-earned victory. It was a heart-stopping match worthy of a championship final.
A PJC player taking a place kick. (Photo 2 © Michael Kwok)
JJC players try to take down a PJC player. (Photo 3 © Michael Kwok)
A PJC player tries to retrieve the ball. (Photo 4 © Michael Kwok)
No.9, Abel Foo is just awesome! Of cos the rest of the team are superb too! Well Done!
Coach, awesome job with the boys!
Abel Foo is definitely the most outstanding player in the team!
PJC’S scrum half no. 9 played an awesome game! He was constantly pressuring the opponents, pushing them backwards, well done!
Pjc#7 Ng Teng Wei, scored the winning try. Kudos to you. Well done!!! It was a nice run from the 15m ruck! Good job!
Great work PJC, and once again kudos to the work done by the teacher in charge/coach,Mr Michael Kwok who never fails to impress many in the rugby community with his passion and dedication to educating his charges through the game of rugby.
Its teachers like that who inspire and use sport as a tool to mold and teach the values of team work and hard work. I’ve observed him around many school rugby events through the years, and through he might have the credentials of an ex player that many coaches here in Singapore might have, his knowledge of the game and techniques to bring boys with little or zero knowledge of the game up to that level is amazing.
This has been said before last year, but I thought I might want to salute a man like many others who are passionate abt school sports and what they impart to the people of tomorrow in the schools.
michael kwok the coach of pjc?
pj number #5 bryan lim kai yao played an extrodinary good match. # 11 daniel kao sheng yao played superbly as well.
jjc played awesome.
Photo 2 – the playing is taking a place kick, not a drop kick.
lol looks like south africa vs wales ( the jerseys not the players)