SAS wrest Police Cup from arch-rivals with win in Under-17 rugby final
By
Jonathan Wong
St Andrew's Tang Hon En being tackled by ACS(I)'s James Morgan in a thrilling encounter at Padang, with some 1,500 supporters cheering both sides on. -- ST PHOTO: NURIA LING
ST ANDREW'S School rugby captain Bryan Lim finally got his hands on that elusive gold medal.
The Saints' B Division skipper, together with his teammates, wrested the Police Cup Schools National Under-17 title from bitter rivals Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) with a 17-10 victory yesterday.
The SAS victory in front of almost 1,500 spectators at the Padang was their first B Division title since 2006 and snapped their opponents' bid for a hat-trick of crowns.
They had also thwarted ACS(I)'s bid for eight consecutive titles when they won in 2004.
It was 16-year-old Bryan's first national rugby title and he looked emotionally drained at the final whistle as the entire team were mobbed by supporters, who included schoolmates, old boys and family members.
The inside centre said: 'It's an indescribable feeling to lift the Cup. This team have never won anything together, so to win this in my last year is fantastic.'
His team got off to a great start in the sweltering heat, taking the lead within five minutes as their No. 8 Khor Jia Jun tore through his opponents just metres outside the try line to score.
Winger Teng Chong Yao failed to convert and the score was tied shortly afterwards as quick inter-play by ACS(I) saw the ball swung to the right for centre Mohamed Nazryn to score. Flanker James Morgan missed with his conversion kick.
The match continued at a fast pace as both sides, dominant in schools' rugby, went into the break tied at 10-10 after tries from SAS' Nicholas Yau and ACS(I)'s Marah Ishraf.
Again, kickers from both teams failed to add conversion points.
