Story by REDintern Iman Hashim. Photos by Clara Yuan/Red Sports
An ACSI player tackles an SJI player. (Photo 1 © Clara Yuan/Red Sports)
PESEB, Thursday, February 18, 2016 — Title holders Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) [ACS(I)] showed absolutely no mercy as they recorded an impressive 70–0 victory over St. Joseph’s Institution (SJI) in the National B Division Rugby Championship.
The scoreline put their season-opening 0–22 defeat to St. Andrew’s Secondary behind them as they look to build up momentum for their title defence.
As for SJI, this was their second loss in a row after a 3–20 defeat to ACS (Barker Road), making it increasingly difficult for them to qualify for the Cup semi-finals.
ACS(I) burst out of their blocks right from the start of the game, with four tries scored in just the first 12 minutes.
As early as the third minute, great movement of the ball down the line to the right flank culminated in Elroy Jahja-Loo (#28) providing the final pass to Douglas Ong (#19) to touch down for the try.
Douglas went from scorer to provider as the second try was scored two minutes later in a similar fashion, after a ruck ensued in the middle of the field. The ball was passed swiftly down the line and Douglas unselfishly laid it off for Adian-Scott Veroff (#23).
The pick of the bunch was the third try in the eighth minute – Josh Quan (#11) displaying incredible pace to go solo from the middle of the pitch, dancing past SJI players as though they were non-existent. He then showed the nerve to cut in more centrally inside the try-zone in spite of the onrushing SJI backs, so that the conversion could be kicked from right in front of the posts. Fly-half Nicholas Wong (#10) stepped up to convert easily.
For the fourth try, Josh Quan (#11) again went on a brilliant mazy run and was mere metres away from the try-line when he got brought down. From the ensuing ruck, Thomas Krellstein (#6) went for the try.
On 23 minutes, SJI had the put-in for a scrum near the ACS(I) try-line, but the scrum went against the head as ACS(I) were the ones who managed to steal control of the ball leading to Elroy (#28) using his brute strength to power his way over the try-line.
ACS(I) scored another unconverted try through Adian-Scott (#23) again, closing the first half with an unassailable 32–0 lead.
ACS(I) never looked like slowing down in the second half, with a further two tries scored within nine minutes of the restart through Mohammad-Mikha Khaleel (#8) and Tristan Yeow (#12). Nicholas Wong (#10) converted for both.
The most eye-catching try of the second half was on 18 minutes – after being pegged back inside their own 22-yard line, SJI’s fly-half Joshua Jeevan Eliathamby (#10) attempted to kick the ball out towards safety. Instead, ACS(I)’s Elijah Ho (#25) magnificently blocked the kick with both arms, before teammate Jared Chow (#20) collected the ball and scurried with it into the try-zone.
Three minutes later, after some great team play by ACS(I), the ball was eventually received by Benjamin Poey (#15) who skipped over a low tackle before coolly placing it over the try-line. Scrum-half Matthew Robinson (#9) took over kicking duties and converted from a rather tight angle.
It seemed like everyone in the ACS(I) team wanted to get in on the act as Timothy Goh (#34) was next to get on the scoresheet, diving over the try-line after collecting a wobbling ball from a clever low kick against the ground by a teammate.
Just before full-time, Benjamin Lim (#2) added another try and Matthew Robinson (#9) converted to conclude the encounter with a 70–0 scoreline.
ACS(I) will look to continue building their momentum with a game against Raffles Institution next, while SJI will next meet title favourites St. Andrew’s Secondary. Both matches will be played on Monday, February 22 at PESEB.
Score By Half
ACS(I) vs SJI
1st Half: 32–0
2nd Half: 38–0 (70–0)
ACS(I) Roster
Benjamin Lim (#2), Isaac Tan (#3), Sim Soon Xiang (#4), Joel Ting (#5), Thomas Krellstein (#6), Muhammad Nur Solihin (#7), Matthew Robinson (#9), Bryan Ang (#18), Nicholas Wong (#10), Josh Quan (#11), Tristan Yeow (#12), Ian Teh (#13), Jaian Kurup (#14), Benjamin Poey (#15), Ira Teh (#16), Janan Yap (#17), Douglas Ang (#19), Lucas Teng Ivan (#21), Shane Patrick Duggan (#22), Adian-Scott Veroff (#23), Elroy Jahja-Loo (#28), Chamapun Kongpote (#30), Sean Tan (#31), Reuben Sivadas (#32), Timothy Goh (#34), Mohammad-Mikha Khaleel (#8), Elijah Ho (#25), Jared Chow (#20)
SJI Roster
Justin Nyoe (#1), Amir Meerza (#17), Jonah Chang (#25), Alonzo Gabriel Llamas Abrigo (#24), Senthilnathan Kumaraval (#23), Md Iqbal B Mustapha (#7), Syahmi B Noorhisam (#8), Hityashan Chandran (#9), Joshua Jeevan Eliathamby (#10), Joshua Ng (#27), Brendan Wong (#20), Mohd Nurfitri (#16), Bryan Koh (#26), Geraldo Nick (#15), Lee Yhu Fhei (#18), John Teo (#2), Adam Dai (#5), Henry Kwok (#21), Loet Low (#22), Marco Nathaniel Lu Ng (#3), Hafiz B Naimat (#12), Aayush Sthapit (#4), Daryl Chia (#28), Ryan Woon (#14), Jon Daniel Acu Kang (#13), Michael Lim (#11)
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