3 February 2010 by Wang Shao Ing
The Guinness Singapore Rugby Club Women’s Sevens 2010 kicked off the women’s rugby season for 2010 at Yio Chu Kang Stadium last Saturday.
It was not all going to be business as usual given an interesting line-up of teams this year: Bucks RFC fielded two teams in the 7s tournament for the first time; RSC and NUS were making their debuts at the national club 7s; Blacks RFC's two teams had an even spread of experience and youth.
In Group A, both Blacks A and Bucks A got off to a cold start with both sides attacking flat. The less than tidy contact areas allowed both teams to capitalize on the others mistakes but Blacks A, managed to come out with a 19-5 win.
Excitement started early in Group B with RSC wearing off their early lethargy from their travels from Malaysia in the second half to even out the two early SRC tries. Their game eventually tied 12-12.
NUS, deprived of several players fielded for their clubs, held out well against Blacks B and RSC but were unable to sustain their defensive efforts and lost 12-5 and 5-0 respectively. Bucks A came back stronger after losing their first game and beat their compatriots Bucks B 15-0.
SRC & Blacks B put up one of the closest fought matches of the tournament. Both teams looked battered at the break but the rest seemed to energize Blacks B who eventually took the game 19-12. SRC put aside their loss and bounced back with a comprehensive 43-0 win against NUS to tie themselves with RSC in the pool. But RSC’s subsequent loss to Blacks B (5-10) catapulted SRC into the Cup semifinals.
Playoffs & Finals
Blacks A, a mixed side of experience and youth with three under 20 players, looked to be picking up their game with a comfortable win over Bucks B (49-0) to secure top billing in their pool and carried this momentum into the first cup semi-final against SRC. Apart from a SRC break in early part of the first half which ended in a knock-on, SRC looked like they never really settled into the rhythm of the game which ended 34-0 to Blacks A.
An all-Blacks final was denied by Bucks A which put in two early tries in the second Cup Semifinal. Blacks B equalized the tries with two of their own and were soon one conversion away from a draw but a some sloppy defending saw Rebecca Gaughen put Bucks A ahead with 17-10, and the finals out of reach for Blacks B.
In the Bowl round robin games, RSC won both games against Bucks B and NUS to emerge as Bowl Champions. In the Plate Finals, Blacks B found themselves with only one to spare after fly-half, Eunice Tay and prop, Jaime Ma had to be treated off the field for a head collision and lost the Plate 15-5 to a deserving SRC.
The Cup finals saw some of the best 7s play of the tournament from Blacks A firing off all cylinders. Bucks A, who were playing their first national club 7s finals, defended bravely but were unable to contain the tide of support from the opposition. Blacks A ended the match 36-0 and Cup Champions.
Blacks and Bucks pleased
Notwithstanding their Cup Final loss, Bucks RFC Team Manager, Kristen Sadler, was ecstatic with the performances of both teams in this outing. "Not only were Bucks able to enter two full strength teams in the tournament for the first time, but the day was capped off with a great performance by the Bucks-on-the-run who finished in 2nd place overall. I think this signifies Bucks’ move from a developmental team into a rugby force to be reckoned with in Singapore and the region!"
On his side's 10th title win, Blacks RFC Team Manager, Po Chongfu, effused "Though we have captured the titles several times, this time round it was special considering we have several young players in the team. It was good to see them step up."
"Overall, it was a composed and matured performance. The team stuck to the pattern the coaches had set and were able to react and change according to the game situation. It was a solid team performance where I can’t really single out any particular individual."
Twenty-five players were short listed by selectors on the weekend for further selection to the National Women’s 7s Training Squad which is expected to be finalised in the next three weeks.
Players short listed for selection of National Women’s Training Squad:
Ang Weiyi (Blacks RFC), Chan Jiayu (Blacks RFC), Rebecca Gaughen (Bucks RFC), Sophie Ngin Gollifer (SRC), Tabitha Fong (Blacks RFC), Priscilla Humphries (Blacks RFC), Andrea Koh (Bucks RFC), Christabelle Lim (NUS), Lim Li Yan (Blacks RFC), Angelina Liu (SRC), Leung Wai Mun (Blacks RFC), Caslin Ong (SRC), Esther Phua (SRC), Clarissa Lim (Blacks RFC), Rosida Sidin (SRC), Esther Tan (Blacks RFC), Tan Hui Juan (Blacks RFC), Eunice Tay (Blacks RFC), Amanda Teo (RFC), Samantha Teo (Blacks RFC), Wang Shao Ing (Blacks RFC), Karen Yeoh (SRC), Wong Yilin (Blacks RFC), Annabel Woo (SRC), Angela Zheng (SRC).
Related Links:
Fixtures and Results
Guinness Singapore Rugby Club 7s 2010 Album
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