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| Photo courtesy of Gloria Cheung |
by Lee Pei Qi
Having improved their score against Japan last week, the Hong Kong team took their game up another level by beating Singapore with a resounding score line of 53-8.
Fielding a team comprising mainly of new faces, the Singapore team never had a chance during the game of showing down the home team.
The game started off positively for the visitors with an aggressive defense line chasing after they kicked off, however the power and determination of the Hong Kong forwards took its toll on them early on in the game.
The physicality of their Hong Kong opponents seemed to have taken the Singapore defense by surprise when they repeatedly committed three or more players to take on a single Hong Kong forward.
Hong Kong camped at the Singapore try line for a good five minutes before the defense succumbed to the battering and let in the first try of the game/ many more to come. Singapore was still trying to recover from the try when their lapse in concentration at the restart resulted in a quick second try to Hong Kong.
The lethal combination of Hong Kong’s number 12, Becky Michelle Underwood, and number 13, Natasha Shangwe Olson-Thorne, took advantage of the less physical Singapore defense with strong running and powerful buddy drives to break through the Singapore line. The chemistry between the Hong Kong backline was also apparent in their supporting play for each other whilst the Singapore defence seemed to crumble after every ruck, requiring too many players to take down the opposition, committing too many players at the rucks and looking confused at too many a times.
Singapore’s attack finally looked alive when Tabitha Fong was put on to replace the injured Angela Zheng. A quick pass from the ruck to the backline forced the Hong Kong defence to drift out whilst a switch allowed outside-centre Clarissa Lim to penetrate the defence. The attacking phase ended in dismay one metre from the try line when Tabitha Fong chucked the ball just when the Singapore supporters had gotten off their seats. The Singapore attack submerged back into their slumber after this spark.
The Singapore forwards continued their valiant effort with numerous phases to bring up the ball only to be let down by poor handling from the backline.
Captain Annabel Woo finally put a score on the board for Singapore when she powered her way to the try line from a ruck just before half time, closing the first half at 22-5.
The game resumed with a seemingly revived Singapore squad chasing down the kick-off to force a knock-on from Hong Kong. The game looked more evenly matched as both teams kept the play in the middle of the field for most of the second half.
Despite Olson-Thorne being moved to the wing in the second half, the Hong Kong’s inside-outside centre strategy continued, committing the Singapore defense to the ruck and swinging out the ball quickly. Although the move was thwarted repeatedly by winger Angelina Liu and cover from fullback Christabelle Lim, the constant prodding at the wing finally wore down the defenses and Hong Kong exploited the opportunity to score four tries in quick concession. Singapore’s morale took an obvious nose dive from then onwards.
Singapore’s only consolation for the second half was a field goal by Christabelle from a penalty conceded in front of the posts.
In the dying moments of the game, Singapore’s determination showed through when they refused to let the game end, putting on one of the most well organised attacks that they had for the second half but it was too little too late and the game ended without any change in the score.
With the Singapore Womens XV team logging in their worst performance against Hong Kong, we can only hope that this was attributable to the many new and inexperienced players who had been caught by surprise of the difference between domestic and international rugby. We will watch on and trust that the exposure gained and the lessons learnt from this game will help them step up their game and bring the Singapore team to new heights.
Singapore National Women's Team v Hong Kong 2011
Forwards: Vanessa Chang, Koh Mei Giet, Chan Jiahui, Sophie Ngin Gollifer, Lee Yi Tian Phin, Chua Yini, Priscilla Humphires, Annabel Woo.
Backs: Samanatha Teo, Wong Yilin, Angela Zheng, Chan Jiayu, Clarissa Grace Lim, Angelina Liu, Christabelle Lim.
Substitutes: Jasmine Chan, Teo Siew Huai, Karen Yeoh, Tabitha Fong, Esther Phua.
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