NUS & SIM battle through to top groups in RP Women's 10s

22 October 2009
by Wang Shao Ing

Picture courtesy of Republic Polytechnic

There was a certain buzz at Republic Polytechnic’s astroturf yesterday evening as the RP Invitational Women’s 10s Tournament pool stages got underway. With all teams pitching everything they had, the title race looked to be a tight one for the playoffs next Thursday.

The National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nayang Technological University (NTU) kicked things off with a closely fought game. A tenacious NTU defence kept NUS scoreless in the first half. NUS’s flyhalf, Wong Yilin, soon found some space for a fine break and a conversion, which was to prove crucial in their win as NTU’s Amanda Teo ran her trademark sideline hugging dash to even out the tries before full time.

In Group B, the Combined Team, comprising players from the Institute of Technical Education, Nayang Polytechnic and Ngee Ann Polytechnic, held home team RP to scoreless draw which raised the impetus for both teams to beat or keep slim scorelines against Singapore Institute of Management (SIM).

Group A’s second game saw NTU put their foot on the gas against SMU, whose scrumhalf, Esther Phua, deserves mention just for getting her team out of trouble a few times and making some darting runs from the scrum combined with some well places kicks. However, NTU worked two well-earned tries to clinch the game 12-0.

SIM faced a good fight against the feisty RP who were cheered on by their supporters. SIM put in two tries through Clarissa Lim and Chan Jiayu before they were caught napping on a penalty and RP’s Eunice Chu took full advantage to put one under the posts. The game ended 10-7 to SIM.

SMU struggled in the first half against NUS who found gaps through the middle of their defence, through flyhalf, Esther Tan and winger, Caslin Ong, who ran in two tries against the opposition before half-time. Amelia Siew found the line for NUS in the second half of some good support play to end the game 22 -0.

Just one try and a conversion away from wrenching second spot from RP in their pool, the Combine Team stormed the pitch against SIM. Their defensive effort held an otherwise far more experienced side to a 12-0 game which saw Lim Liyan and Chan put down the points for their team but was insufficient to boot RP out from second placing within the group.

The final game of the day between the Combined Team and SMU was to say the least, a laborious one for both sides. Both teams showed a steely determination not to give and the match went in to extra time. For most part, neither team threatened to a score until the dying minutes of the extended period when the Combined Team found themselves camped out in SMU’s 22m area. They were finally rewarded with a try which was a cause for some controversy as the Combined Team touched the corner post before grounding the ball. But referee Saudi Tan was right in awarding the try which would have otherwise been disallowed under the old Laws.

Given the display at the groups stages, one would be hard-pressed to name any clear favourites based on current form, save for SIM, which maintains an edge with their experience.The play-offs next Thursday will see NUS face RP and SIM face NTU for a spot in the finals.