Story by Ng Enna/Red Sports. Pictures by Vanessa Lim/Red Sports

B division rugby 2011

Kang Dong Wan (#3) scores the final try for ACS (BR) to make it 26-16. (Photo 1 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)

Republic Polytechnic, Friday, March 11, 2011 — Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) scored two late tries to beat St. Joseph’s Institution (SJI) 26-16 for their second victory in this year’s National B Division Rugby Championship.

The win gives ACS (BR) a 2-1-1 win-draw-loss record and fourth spot in Group A with three games to play. SJI lie fifth but have played two games more and have a 2-1-3 record. Only the top four qualify for the Cup semi-finals.

SJI coach Teo Han Chua said that it was not a case of complacency. He explained: “We were already quite depleted at that late stage as the boys didn’t pace themselves. And for ACS (BR), they really came back very hard, I really give them credit for that.”

Tension was high from the start and SJI were rewarded with a penalty kick shortly after the starting whistle but the kicker missed the chance of putting three points on the scoreboard. This did not stop SJI from attacking and Aymeric Seah (#8) scored the first and only try for SJI in the third minute. The try was converted by team captain Joshua Toh (#10).

SJI put up a tough defence when not in possession, preventing ACS (BR) from gaining yards with aggressive tackling.

ACS (BR) finally showed some good passes and runs in the ninth minute but they were still taken down near the try line and tackled out of the field of play. The frustrated ACS (BR) coach described the boys as “standing like dummies”.

By then, tensions were running high and there was a lot of taunting on the field. The referee finally stopped play in the 20th minute to give Jeremy Chua (#24) of ACS (BR) a yellow card.

Despite being down to 14 men, ACS (BR) efforts finally paid off the in the 25th minute. After the line-out, the ball was passed to Kang Dong Wan (#3) who pushed through SJI’s defence to score a try for ACS (BR), which was converted, to tie the game up at 7-7 with five minutes remaining to half-time.

However, SJI were awarded a penalty in the second-last minute and Joshua Toh (#10) did not let the team down as he gave his team a 10-7 lead to take into the break.

There was a slight manpower shuffle in the SJI team during the second half when Evan Teoh (#3) was subbed out due to a knee injury and he was replaced by teammate Yan Xu (#23).

Zechary Koh (SJI #9) was yellow-carded shortly after the start of the second half for offensive play and ACS (BR) almost took advantage. 10 minutes into the second half, ACS (BR) kicked the ball near the try line but they fumbled when grounding the ball.

However, ACS (BR) finally got the first try of the second half through Maurice Lim (#5) and Jeremy Chua (#24) converted for his team to lead 14-10.

SJI were not done. They won another penalty a few minutes later and Joshua Toh (#10) kicked the ball safely between the posts and his team now trailed by only one point (13-14).

The heat was on and it was either team’s game.

With 10 minutes left in the second half, SJI were awarded one more penalty and Joshua Toh (#10) displayed consistency to score yet again to put his team in front 16-14.

The pressure was now on ACS (BR). In the 23rd minute, ACS (BR) seemed to have scored after a nice run down the left side but the referee ruled it out. Nevertheless, Maurice Lim (#5) scored an unconverted try for ACS (BR) two minutes later after a scrum to wrestle back the lead at 19-16.

A fast-tiring SJI could do little to then stop Kang Dong Wan (#3) from scoring another ACS (BR) try in the final few minutes. It was again converted by Jeremy Chua (#24) to ensure a 26-16 victory for ACS (BR).

Despite the victory, ACS (BR) coach Lincoln Tan said the boys “did not play well.”

He also added: “We believed we could win but the boys did not play to the game plan, which actually made it more difficult for them. On the other hand, the SJI team played very well.”

Even though the SJI boys suffered in the game because of the physical build of the ACS (BR) players, their coach Teo Han Chua was full of praise for them.

“There were two, three players from the other team that tore the boys apart. It was in fact very damaging. It was a very good effort and very full of commitment. They worked very well as a team; they defended well, they moved well together,” said coach Teo.

ACS (BR) will meet Greenridge Secondary at CCAB on Monday, March 14 at 9.15am for their next game, while SJI are scheduled to play their final game against Greenridge at 4.30pm on March 21 at Yio Chu Kang Stadium.

National B Division Rugby Championship – Fixtures & Results

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