Winning Start against Kyrgyzstan

3 June 2008

by Wang Shao Ing

Singapore got off to a winning start and recorded Singapore's first XV a-side victory in their third Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) Women's XV Championships campagin with a 38-0 win against Kyrgyzstan. The team had travelled over 30 hours to get to the small town of Taraz, 8 hours bus ride from the city of Almaty where they had landed after a 7 hour stop-over in Bangkok.

Skipper, Wang Shao Ing, put in Singapore's first try from a rolling maul by the Singapore forwards off their lineout just outside Kyrgyzstan's 22m within the first minute but it was not immediately after that Singapore put more points on the board.

Spotting gaps in Kyrgyzstan's defence, Singapore squandered another three try scoring opportunities with some nervy handling but the backline soon found their groove and debutant winger, Clarissa Lim, flew to ground one in the right corner off a blind-side move. Kyrgyzstan's indiscipline at the breakdowns in their 22m area cost them a further three points and great handling by the Singapore backs saw full-back and vice-captain Eunice Tay score Singapore's 3rd try before half-time.

Singapore's dominance continued in the second half as the forwards secured the set pieces and quick ball for their backs. Looping runs and deft hands from standoff Wong Yilin and inside centre, Serena Yeoh, released outcentre, Derelyn Chua and winger, Angela Zheng into space. Chua and Zheng put in two tries a piece to place Singapore into the semi-finals against Japan who had forfeited their first game against Kazakhstan.

In the other pool game, Uzbekistan held their nerve against Hong Kong to take the other semi-final spot against Kazakhstan.

Team against Kyrgyzstan:

Forwards
1. Tan Sze Yin
2. Gina Tan
3. Nur Azurah Bte Mohd Khalid
4. Ailei Tandean
5. Annabel Woo
6. Berni Ong
7. Wang Shao Ing (Captain) (1 try, 1 pen)
8. Ang Weiyi

Backs
9. Tan Hui Juan
10. Wong Yilin
11. Angela Zheng (2 tries)
12. Serena Yeoh
13. Derelyn Chua (2 tries)
14. Clarissa Lim (1 try)
15. Eunice Tay (V.Captain) (1 try)

Substitutions
16. Lee Tao Jing
17. Sabrina Lim
18. Karen Yeoh
19. Priscilla Humphries
20. Leung Wai Mun
21. Sophie Gollifer
22. Jessica Tan
23. Lim Li Yan
24. Koh Mei Giet