Singapore SCNRA Women's Team Take Home A Win

Picture courtesy of Singapore Rugby

5 June 2012
Wang Shao Ing


In a weekend of many firsts, the Singapore Standard Chartered National Rugby Academy (SCNRA) Women's Team beat a gutsy Philippine Women's National Development Team on Saturday at the inaugural International Ladies 15s Rugby Football Challenge in Cebu.

It was a shaky start from the visitors as a host of handling errors had them pinned in their own 22m and the Volcanoes were the first to put the points on the board through Aiumi Ono. The SCNRA team responded swiftly through winger, Xie Ying in the 16th minute and half back Samantha Teo followed up with a breakaway try of her own minutes later with Esther Tan adding the conversions.

Although the SCNRA team enjoyed most of the possession for the next quarter, the backline attack lacked the punch needed to break the Philippine's defence until loosehead prop, Joanna Archana Bala, drove over the line through some forwards phase play before the half to bring the score to 19 - 5.



Things looked ominous for the hosts as the SCNRA team carried their momentum from the first half to the second as inside backs Chan Jiayu and Elly Syazwani scored a try a piece within the first seven minutes. The Volcanoes however dug deep to fend off the opposition and were rewarded with a try, Ono's second for her side. SCRNA's Gloria Sharpe was binned for a high tackle but the visitors held their ground and had the last say with Bliss Tan going over the line to bring the final score to 36-10.

Team Manager and Assistant Coach of the SCNRA team, Eunice Tay, was pleased with the performance of her charges given the limited time the team had to train due to the academic commitments of the players. "It was a good performance overall and we are happy with the way the team has come together. Although their game awareness and reaction to situations can be improved the communication was high and that was what we had going for us."

The Phillippine Rugby Football Union has rung eight changes from the team that played in Cebu for the Asian Women's 15s Div II Tournament to take place in Manila in two weeks. Singapore are expected to name their final squad sometime this week.

Related Articles:

PRFU: Lady Volcanoes Squad Named for ARFU Div II Championship

PhilStar.com: International Rugby Football Challenge Singaporeans Zap Phil Ladies