Ezekiel Koh (#6) of St. Andrew’s Secondary and Sim Soon Xiang (#5) of ACS(I) contest for the ball during a line-out. (Photo 9 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)
Ezekiel Koh (#6) of St. Andrew’s Secondary and Sim Soon Xiang (#5) of ACS(I) contest for the ball during a line-out. (Photo 9 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)
[…] In 2014, ACS(I) were the superior and had their own way with the Saints, as they clinched easy 73–… […]
Adrain, using your personal reputation as an ex-referee and player to vouch for Azhar’s performance is as good as Prof X vouching for Magneto; afterall they are both mutants – it holds no water. Have you watched the movie “Moneyball”? It demonstrates the power of objective data. Stats do not lie. They show trends, and from there we spot outliers. Let me show you some objective data, obtained from Redsports:
ACSI vs Barker 71-0 Saints vs Barker 27-19
ACSI vs RI 69-0 Saints vs RI 10-10
ACSI vs Montfort 87-5 Saints vs Montfort 43-0
ACSI vs Pioneer 85-0 Saints vs Pioneer 39-7
ASCI vs Saints 73-0
The semifinal results were pretty consistent with the performances of the team in the prelim round: ACSI vs RI 67-0 while Saints vs Barker 21-15 (on the 21/8/14)
Then suddenly, 5 days later on the grand finals on the 26/8/14, Saints vs ACSI was 28-8
Can you see the trend? Can you spot the outlier? Adrian, by all means, produce some objective data to substantiate your view. Perhaps do a penalty count. I am especially interested in the NATIONAL SCHOOLS rugby games that Azhar officiated which did not involve ACS. We need an apple to apple comparison.
Dear Daniel Thiam, you seemed to confuse qualification (competence) with integrity. The essence of these comments did not question his competence, but rather his partiality, or rather the lack of it. No one will argue that Lance Armstrong is not a qualified cyclist. See the point? Actually to call him incompetent is better than to call him biased, because the latter suggest intentionality.
But I believe everyone should have a right to defend themselves, to rebut these criticisms with solid objective stats. So I will appreciate if you, or Adrian, or Redsports can forward these comments to Azhar or to SRU for their comments. This is only fair. I am sure that you, as coach of Saints, is all for fair play. As Saints look forward to 2015 as the year to get the Grandslam. I am sure that you are confident in your boys to achieve this by their own merit. Sometimes perception is as important as reality. I trust that you will insist that Azhar do not officiate in any game that involve ACS for next year’s National School rugby so that no one can casts aspersions on the Saints Grandslam.
This guy should be audited by SRU ! I watched the B finals in April, first match before it was suspended due to lightning warning. Majority of the spectators were apalled by his overwhelming one sided calls. Disbelief that he is the best they can get ??
I watched the first B finals and already thought he should be banned from refereeing. Surprised he is chosen again for the C finals. PESEB and SRU should do a proper audit on their referees. He spoilt the games !
I refer to the post made by Mr Adrian Lee. I am from neither school contesting in the final. Besides they did not have rugby in girls school back then. However, I am a fervent supporter of local schools rugby and I am often at the matches.
I was at the match yesterday and I personally thought Mr Azhar was rather strict in his interpretation of the laws of rugby. For that, he cannot be faulted. However, when the penalty count against one team is something like 8-9:1 that of the other team, then one not at the game may think that perhaps, only one team was doing the fouling. However, like many who were there yesterday, that was clearly not the case. Sure there were offsides, coming in from the side, playing the ball on the ground, not releasing, not rolling away etc, but hang on, Saints were just as guilty of the above infringes as ACSI. That is my main grouse.
As a lover of sports, all we want is a referee who is fair, and exacting in his standards, and consistent in his application of the laws to both teams. Nothing spoils a game more than when it is perceived to be unfair.
For Singapore Rugby to improve, there must be some way for the referees to be assessed, so that they can improve as they go on. For starters, there must be peer reviews as well as other forms of objective audits to follow from the IRB. Not sure if these things are currently in place, but with these, Singapore Rugby will sure improve, and isn’t that the aim of the SRU?
All things aside, it was a wonderful event yesterday. It was especially heartening to see both teams come together after the match to share a prayer of peace. Such is rugby, you can go at each other’s throats during the match, but still shakes hands and share a drink after the game. It was also invigorating to see the young people on the terraces cheering heartily the brave warriors on the pitch. The energy and atmosphere was particularly invigorating. Kudos to Sportshub, MOE and SRU for staging such a magnificent event. I for one, am eagerly waiting for the next edition!
I think Azahar applied the law of rugby correctly.
Being an ex-referee and player myself, I think he officiated the game well.
Barring some incidences on the other side where it is not visible. This is where the assailant referees call will come in handy.
I have seen Azahar referee for many years and he is one that is totally neutral. Many past referees will concur on this fact.
ACS I were the favorites and they rightly won. Credit is given to St Andrew’s for putting up a good fight. The players must know the law and apply them. If you infringe them you will be penalize. Repeated infringement means time in the bin.
Good game, good result and good refereeing.
Good end to the C Div season and congratulations to ACS I for winning it.
I think 6000 pairs if eyes will disagree with you. Including current players and current refs. Good refs apply the laws equally. You cannot be blinded by the colour of the jersies. Or the fact that about 15 blatant driving over the ball is somehow left to his blindness again .
I too was there when the he literally walked saints from the halfway line to acs try line in the b div finals! Remember that one??! There is obviously a pattern here.
I vote to ban him from future ac games. He can be neutral in other games.
Adrian, I am afraid you are far off the mark here. The data does not lie. You are entitled to your opinion but not to facts. I watched this team demolish all their opponents (including sadly -Raffles , ACS Barker and Saints) in all their rounds. Saints did not suddenly play better. (they did tackle well). The difference is Azahar. Go figure. Based on what was seen- the tries saved by the ref’s whistle would be around 50 points. That is a clearly picture between a superior team in a different league to the rest of the field.
Open Letter to the Ref (i hope he gets to read this)
Dear Ref,
It is amazing how one person can change the game. How you still manage to still remain the main official in a gentlemen’s game with your most ungracious sportsmanlike behavior. You are a disgrace to the sport. You are a disgrace to SRU.
Am I too harsh? 50 penalties vs 5. 7 penalties awarded close to the Saints Try Line. Numerous “unseen” offenses by the Saints line. 100 calls for knock-ons when the ball was NOT even in the hands of an AC Player. YOU SIR gave the Saints hope when it could have been MERCY by half time. When you sent off the AC player- it was literally 16 players vs 14 . YOu Sir deserve a Saints Jersey.
I hope you are proud of what you have done. The real heroes today are the brave and gallant Saints whom in their hearts , and their minds know that they are up against the Juggernaut. Still they fight. Your cowardice did their defeat NO GLORY. It is the travesty of the highest nature to deny the many hours of sacrifices both teams have put in. You Sir, robbed them of those sacrifices. You deny Saints the honourable defeat- better to die on their feet then to live on their knees. You do not deserve to referee another game.
I know you know that I am right.