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| photo by Mark Cristino |
Wang Shao Ing
Singapore took home the Asian Women's 15s 2012 Div II Championship on Saturday in a match against Thailand that went down the wire in their 21-19 win. The win promotes the republic back to division one next year where they have been playing since 2006.
Earlier in the afternoon, the Lady Volcanoes had delighted the home crowd with a resounding 55-0 win over Lao PDR to maintain their third place within Division II. The victory over Lao PDR was an emphatic one, improving on their 20-12 win a year ago. The Volcanoes were superior in almost every department with skipper Ada Milby bagging a hat trick. Whilst Lao put up a brave fight, the physicality of the game almost seemed to overwhelm them.
Thailand's intent to use their speedy backline that broke the Philippines in the playoffs was evident as Chitchanok Yusri moved from fullback to the midfield beside the prolific Uraiwan Chorlee. Indiscipline however cost the Thai side as Singapore were the first on the score sheet with two penalties through the boot of Christabelle Lim by the ten minute mark.
Thailand responded soon after as Singapore's decision not to kick for safety in their twenty-two gave Thais quick ball and an opportunity to use their larger forwards to score two quick tries through a series of pick and gos. But Singapore was not to be denied for long as quick tap penalty taken by Derelyn Chua put Christabelle Lim over the line to bring the half time score to 14-12.
The islander's rush defence and policy of keeping numbers out of the breakdown had closed out the Thai backline but allowed the Thai forwards plenty of go forward. Handling errors kept Singapore in their half for a good twenty minutes in the second half and whilst the women in red absorbed sustained periods of pressure, they were unable to contain another attempt by the Thai forwards under the post putting Thailand ahead for the second time in the game.
A well-oiled lineout from a penalty early in the last quarter gave the Singapore backline a chance to get out of their half and the republic never backed down from there. A quick tap penalty from a scrum taken by halfback, Sim Chiew Hong put Chan Jiayu on the scoresheet and Lim converted the effort to keep Singapore ahead by two points.
It was gritty viewing at times but Singapore displayed composure and belief in their game plan. With the forwards dominating the lineouts and the team keeping its discipline in defence, Singapore kept the ball in hand and Thailand at bay for the last ten minutes to close out the championship and the match 21-19.
Jacqueline Sng, Koh Mei Giet, Lee Taojing, Lee Yi Tian, Priscilla Humphries, Chua Yini, Wang Shao Ing, Tan Hui Juan, Sim Chiew Hong, Wong Yilin, Samantha Teo, Chan Jiayu, Derelyn Chua, Angela Zheng, Christabelle Lim
Substitutes: Vanessa Chang, Krystle Huan, Gloria Sharp, Teo Siew Huai, Esther Phua, Chloe Besanger, Lim Lee Lian
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