By Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports

National C Division Rugby Championship RI vs ACS (Barker Road)

Javille Goh (#13) of Raffles Institution scores a try against Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road). Goh scored two tries in the victory. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)

PESEB, Monday, July 6, 2015 — A last-gasp try by Izaac Tay (#7) helped Raffles Institution (RI) escape a gutsy Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) comeback, and clinch an opening 20–17 victory in the National C Division Rugby Championship.

The victors were led by Javille Goh (#13), who had two tries, both of which came in the first half. Despite the loss, Ryan Galistan (#13), who is only in his first year at ACS, stood out from the field as he anchored the comeback attempt with his nifty footwork and impressive runs.

RI established an upper hand early in the opening half, as they took advantage of a nervy ACS pack to blitz to a 12–0 lead.

However, their lead was short-lived as ACS had an answer in Ryan Galistan (#13). Giving his team a much needed boost, the outside centre made two 60-yard runs in subsequent possessions to return RI’s favor and tie the game. Elder brother Tristan Galistan (#10) had a conversion, while Jerel Wong (#7) and Ethan Winston Sum (#9) were the beneficiaries of the plays, as they recorded a try each in the frame.

Riding on their momentum, ACS earned the lead with a Jason Lam (#15) try off a breakaway run. In the process, however, they conceded a penalty to Bervyn Wong (#19), who helped RI keep the game within a two-point reach.

In the dying minutes of the game, after several frenzied plays, Tay (#7) managed to turn the tide around for RI, capitalizing on a defensive blunder by ACS. He scored the final try of the game, putting a full stop to the ACS comeback and sealing the three-point RI victory.

“They (ACS) wanted the win really badly and we were very frustrated when they came back,” said RI captain Gideon Kee (#10).

“We played against each other a few times before with some wins and losses between us, but thankfully, we were focused and the final effort and push that we made helped us pull through.”

RI will next face defending champions Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) at 3 p.m. on Monday, July 13, while ACS will play Pioneer Secondary at 4.30 p.m. on Friday, July 10. Both games will be played at PESEB.

Score by half
RI vs ACS (Barker Road)
1st half: 12–12
2nd half: 8–5 (20–17)

Scorers
RI
Goh Zheng Hui Javille (#13) – 2 tries
Izaac Tay Yi Ren (#7) – 1 try
Wong Wei Feng Bervyn (#19) – 1 penalty and 1 conversion

ACS (Barker Road)
Wong Ye Jun Jerel (#7) – 1 try
Ethan Winston Sum En-Tze (#9) – 1 try
Lam Jing Guo, Jason (#15) – 1 try
Tristan Philip Alfred Galistan (#10) – 1 conversion

RI Roster
Leon Kollart (#1), Sek Ray (#2), Aiman Jianhao B Ikram (#3), Luqmanul Hakim B Nor Idham (#4), Ang Ben Yao, Aldrick (#5), Joshua Choy Weng Yew (#6), Izaac Tay Yi Ren (#7), Joshua Poon (#8), Jonathan Christopher Lim (#9), Gideon Kee An (#10), Spencer Wee Ye Kai (#11), Muhammad Wafiq Aqil B W S (#12), Goh Zheng Hui Javille (#13), Zhu Hongpeng (#14), Lee Kai Si (#15), Ho Kai En (#16), Goh Kai Jen Nicholas (#17), Ahmad Amsyar B Mohd Adom (#18), Wong Wei Feng Bervyn (#19), Amirul Haziq B Muhammad E (#20), Jordan Poon (#21), Kee Yun Shao (#22), Dylan Clarke (#24), Muhammad Rifdi B Salahudin (#26), Rohit George Joseph (#27), Seetoh Chung Hon Stanley (#28), Yeo Isaac (#29), Ho Jun Wei Matthew (#30)

ACS (Barker Road) Roster
Caleb Jabaseelan Gunalan (#1), Mohamed Danish B Rosman (#2), Sushendran S/O Ramesh (#3), Mohammad Ghazi B Mohammad Z (#4), Paul Wei Jun Allwood (#5), Fauzan Aziem B Mohammad E (#6), Wong Ye Jun Jerel (#7), Ng Zheng Da, Joshua (#8), Ethan Winston Sum En-Tze (#9), Tristan Philip Aldred Galistan (#10), Danish Rusydi B Sidek (#11), Matteo Rinaldi (#12), Ryan Robin Alfred Galistan (#13), Nathan Alexander Yong (#14), Lam Jing Guo, Jason (#15), Russell Yong Yi Xian (#16), Lian Jun Kai, Andre (#17), Luqman Nurhamzah B Ab Rahman (#18), Nathan Wong Kar Wai (#19), Koh Yun Jian, Marcus (#20), Hua Kheng Ju (#22), Mohammad Faiq Harraz B M F (#23), Russell Loo Wen Kai (#24), Varen Lee Zhexuan (#25), Muhammad Salihin B Mohd Zahren (#28), Mohamed Dani B Rosman (#29), Dylan Kyle Chua (#36), Brennan Luke Ponniah (#39)

National C Division Rugby Championship — Fixtures and results

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