by Wang Shao Ing
Featured image courtesy of 28photography
The team from the National University of Singapore (NUS) took the M1 Girls Rugby 7s by storm at the Yio Chu Kang Stadium on Saturday against some strong competition from Singapore Management University (SMU), Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) and Republic Polytechnic (Republic Polytechnic).
The tournament featured six teams from various universities, polytechnics, ITE and schools which were coached by the Singapore Women’s National team players under Singapore Rugby’s development program.
It was a close call for SMU who won the game in Pool A by a single try against the ever feisty Bukit Batok Secondary School (BBSS). BBSS showed once again that their smaller frames did not mean they were a pushover when they put in a try in a 5-10 loss to NP, who eventually topped the pool with a 10-0 win against SMU.
In Pool B, ITE put up a strong fight against NUS but a fragmented defence left them trailing 0-15 at full time. RP, who were always strong contenders for the title, ripped the ITE defence apart with 26 unanswered points through their speedy runners and some solid kickoffs at the restarts. The final pool game between RP and NUS was a close one with RP up by a conversion until a late break by NUS put them ahead 10 -7.
RP lost their semifinal match against NP which continued their winning streak with a 10-0 victory. The second semifinal proved to be a real nail-biter with SMU putting in the first try from quickly taken penalty against a disorganized NUS defence. NUS had to play catch up but answered quickly with an unconverted try leaving both teams 5 points apiece at full time. The sudden death extra time had everyone on knife edge with some breaks and several smashing tackles from both sides but a lapse in the SMU defence allowed NUS to take the game 10-5 and proceed to the finals.
In the playoffs, ITE took fifth place against BBSS in a two-try winner. For the third place, RP re-gathered its troops and stepped up their game against SMU who gave away one penalty try from a high tackle bringing the final score to 24 - 5.
With both sides still undefeated, NUS and NP were posed for an exciting final. NUS put in an early try in the finals against NP and were in danger of allowing the NP attack through the ranks but some stellar cover defending from NUS and mishandling from NP prevented the latter from putting any points on the board. NUS won the final 10 - 0.
Related Links:
Full Fixtures & Results
SR Uni Poly ITE Rugby Programme
Singapore Rugby Report
28photography
Columns :Rugby by Tetteyana Jasli
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