Story by Adrian Tan

acsi vs acs barker c division rugby

Lucas Teng (#10) of ACS(I) going over for the first try as Danish Rusydi (#11) of ACS(BR) gives chase. (Photo 1 © Les Tan/Red Sports)

Physical and Sports Education Branch, Evans Road, Monday, July 20, 2015 — Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) defeated Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) 29–0 in the National C Division Rugby Championship.

A downpour midway in the game did not stop the defending champions from securing their second win of the season. ACS(I) led 17–0 at half time.

ACS(I) now have two wins after defeating Raffles Institution in their previous game. They opened their season with a loss to St Andrew’s Secondary.

For ACS (Barker), who beat Pioneer Secondary 78–0 in their previous game, this is their second loss of the season after they went down to RI in their opener.

St. Andrew’s remain the only undefeated team in the championship with three wins. They have beaten ACS(I) (15–12), St. Joseph’s Institution (42-0) and Pioneer Secondary (73–0).

In the lead up to the game, both teams held identical 1-1 win-loss records, and were anxious to avoid defeat against the other to avoid a likely match up against unbeaten St. Andrew’s in the semi-finals. In their last friendly just before the start of the season, the two teams played out a 14–14 draw during the June holidays.

ACS(BR) kicked off the game and the opening exchanges were fairly even but ACS(I) soon broke the game open. In the 5th minute of play, Elroy Jahja-Loo received the ball and brushed aside four ACS(BR) defenders before hooking a moon ball offload over to the wing. Scrumhalf Lucas Ivan Teng was quickest to react, jumping high to grab the ball and ground it for an unconverted try and a 5–0 ACS(I) lead.

ACS(I) continued to control the run of play and never really allowed ACS(BR) to settle into their game. In the 8th minute, Matthew Lim collected a pass 10m out, side-stepped two players, before launching himself through the air to score the second try for ACS(I). Another missed conversion left it at 10–0.

The dark overcast sky soon unleashed a torrential downpour. The lightning alert stayed quiet, allowing the game to continue. ACS(I) adapted better to the wet and slick conditions. From an opponents’ lineout, Shenn Tan (#5) snared the ball high in mid-air for ACS(I), and the pack set up the maul, which advanced for a bit before the ball went out to the backs.

The ball then found its way to the hands of charging prop, Bryan Ang, who was brought down just metres from the line. From the base of the ruck, Richard Goo (#7) was quickest to pick up the ball and dive over the line just next to the posts for five more points. Aran Willetts (#12) made up for his two previous conversion misses to put two more points on the board and a 17–0 ACS(I) lead.

In the second half, ACS(I) kicked off with the rain gone and the sun starting to peek out from behind the clouds. A Sean Tan (#15) kick put the ACS(BR) backs under pressure as it was allowed to bounce around in the 5m area. The ball carromed its way into the try zone, and Matthew Lim (#20) chased a near-lost cause and out-muscled the ACS(BR) back to touch the ball down first, just between the posts. The conversion made it 24–0.

ACS(BR) were now playing for pride and responded by holding on to the ball better. But ACS(I) held firm, not allowing ACS(BR) any sniff of the try line.

From a breakaway raid down the right, ACS(I) scored the final try of the day when Richard Goo evaded the clutches of ACS(BR) captain, Joshua Ng, and three more ACS (Barker) players before grounding the ball in the corner for his second try of the day. The failed conversion left the score at 29–0.

ACS(I) played with 14 men in the last last quarter when Reuben Sivadas was yellow carded for an incident off the ball after the referee’s whistle. However, ACS(BR) were not able to capitalise on the one-man advantage, as ACS(I) closed ranks and saw out the remainder of the minutes.

ACS(I) next play St. Joseph’s Institution while ACS (Barker) take on St. Andrew’s in the earlier game at 3pm on the same day on Friday, July 24.

ACS(I) Roster
Elijah Ho Teng Loong (#1), Ira Teh Jia Le (#2), Ang Wei Sheng, Bryan (#3), Joshua Tan Kai Shenn (#5), Reuben Sivadas Ruixian (#6), Richard Goo Zheng Wei (#7), Elroy Irwan Jahja-Loo (#8), Khoo Shen Yi, Stuart Dylan (#9), Teng Ivan, Lucas (#10), Goh Jing Hao Timothy (#11), Aran James Willetts (#12), Finan Siow (#13), Jason Tan Jun Hao (#14), Sean Tan Jun Kai (#15), Chang You-Sheng, Ethan (#16), Kwan Ean Fung, Ian (#17), Ong Li-Sheng (#18), Sean Ng Shi Wen (#19), Lim Dao Yuan Matthew (#20), Andrius Wong Jun Long (#21), Joshua Amarjeet Magherra (#22), Huang Jing Yu (#23), Tan Soon Kang, William (#24), Tan Jern Yu Timothy (#26), Lim Hongxi (#28), Muhammad Aiman B Mohammad Azhar (#32), Muhammad Kiane Rashidale (#36), Timothy Chan (#45)

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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