Mohamed Mikha Khaleel (ACSI #8) goes over for a try. (Photo 1 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Home Team Academy, Monday, March 21, 2016 — Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) [ACS(I)] defeated Raffles Institution (RI) 29-8 to qualify for the final of the National B Division Rugby Championship.
ACS(I) had also beaten RI 31-10 in Round 1 and will face the winner of the other semi-final between St Andrew’s Secondary and Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road).
ACS(I) qualified for the semi-finals after completing Round 1 with a 4-1 win-loss record to finish second in the group. RI were third with a 3-2 record.
The two teams produced an engaging, high-scoring first half. A lightning delayed start saw the game kick off at 5.30pm and it was ACS(I) who were the first to shake off the lethargy of the two-and-a-half-hour delay.
Within minutes of the start, the imposing figure of Jaian Kurup (ACSI #14) cut through the RI line to score the opening try which Matthew Robinson (#9) converted. RI replied almost immediately from the kick off through a penalty by Alexander Ong (#10) and the game was barely 5 minutes old.
ACS(I) then got a second converted try through Mohammad-Mikha Khaleel (#8) which Robinson (#9) again converted for a 14-3 ACS(I) lead.
Then the tide turned green.
RI got another penalty but it was not converted. Continued RI pressure then saw them get camp deep in the ACS(I) half for a sustained period but with no ultimate joy for the Bishan boys as they came up just short.
ACS(I) managed to relieve the pressure and found a third try through Shane Duggan (#22) for a 21-3 half time lead.
The second half was a cagier affair. Elroy Jahja-Loo (#28) rumbled over for a fourth ACS(I) try for a 26-3 lead but Benjamin Lim (#2) of ACS(I) got shown a yellow card to hand the momentum to RI.
The boys in green and black took advantage of their extra man for 10 minutes to go over for an unconverted try through Ray Sek (#26) to reduce the deficit to 18 points (26-8).
However, Robinson (#8) put another penalty through the post to secure the win, and ACS(I) now turn to the task of preparing to defend their title in the final.
Score By Half
ACS(I) vs RI
1st Half: 21-3
2nd Half: 8–5 (29–8)
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)
RI Roster
Jordan Poon (#30), Aiman Jianhao B Ikram (#3), Sri Ram Al Ramasamy Muthuraman (#18), Shafiq Imran (#2), Joshua Choy (#27), Izaac Tay (#6), Gideon Kee An (#8), Sek Ray (#26), Ryan Chng (#27), Jameson Chia (#7), Li Aidan Mann Rong (#20), Luqmanul Hakim (#4), Kee Yun Shao (#22), Ivan Leong (#9), Bervyn Wong (#24), Shawn Goh (#33), Alexander Ong (#10), Zuriel Chua (#17), Muhammad Wafiq Aqil (#25), Jediel Yew Shen (#13), Ezra Lim (#14), Javille Goh (#11), Mitchell Yap (#12), Isaac Yeo (#29), Zhu Hongpeng (#15), Ahmad Amsyar (#24), Madabhushi Aravind (#1)
National B Division Rugby Championship – fixtures and results
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