The Saint Chronicles

Thursday, April 13, 2006

April 13, 2006
Saints roll to cup win over ACS (I)

AFTER all the off-field controversy surrounding biting and stamping incidents, the schools national B division rugby competition drew to a close at the Home Team Academy in Choa Chu Kang yesterday.

EMOTIONS RUN HIGH: St Andrew's players Muhd Nabil Thaqif Yaakob (left) and Daryl Chia (centre) celebrate success with teammates, after winning 12-7 against ACS(I). Despite the earlier controversy, yesterday's game was clean and hard-fought. -- ALBERT SIM

St Andrew's Secondary School, who went into the game as slight underdogs, lifted the Police Cup for the third year running, defeating arch-rivals Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) 12-7 in the final.

Events leading to the final had threatened to overshadow yesterday's match.

Following a recent match against St Joseph's Institution (SJI), an ACS(I) player was handed a six-match ban for stamping on an opponent's head, while a teammate was banned for two years for biting an SJI player.

The two-year ban became a public talking point with opinions being divided as to whether the lengthy ban, believed to be the longest handed out to a schools player, was justified.

ACS (I) has not yet decided whether to appeal the two bans handed down by the Singapore Schools Sports Council.

Yesterday, some 2,000 supporters from both sides saw a hard-fought, but clean contest.

Three penalties by Robert Lim and a drop-goal by Daryl Chia sealed victory for St Andrew's. ACS(I)'s points came from a try by Jonathan Jacob and a Blandon Tan conversion.

stan
UPDATED @ 10:38 PM

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