The Saint Chronicles

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

April 4, 2006
SPORTS IN SCHOOLS
The Saints on track for rugby hat-trick

ST ANDREW'S School defeated St Joseph's Institution 19-3 in the semi-finals of the Schools National B division rugby tournament at the Police Academy yesterday.

A SAINT GOES FLYING: A low tackle by a Josephian break up a Saints attack but fails to stop St Andrew's from winning the semi-final. -- ALBERT SIM

But the Saints will have to wait till this evening to know their opponents for the final.

For the second semi-final between Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) and Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) was rained off.

Although SJI is now considered one of the Big Five in schools rugby - the other being Raffes Institution - it was no match for the marauding Saints yesterday.

Tries from Abel Teo, Robert Lim and Andrew Chua earned St Andrew's a place in the final.

Robert converted two of the tries.

SJI scored through a penalty.

Judging from the fluid play of the Saints yesterday, they must be favourites to gain a hat-trick of titles.

They won the last two years, both times, against ACS (I).

ACS (I) must overcome the off-field setbacks of the past fortnight past if they are to beat their brothers in the semi-finals and then the Saints in the final.

Two of their players were given suspensions of six matches and two years respectively for gross misconduct in a preliminary-round match against St Joseph's about a fortnight ago.

In contrast, the match between SAS and SJI was tough but clean and disciplined.

When asked whether the result reflected a one-sided match, the Saints' teacher-in-charge Chris Tan said:

'Oh no, the Josephians are hard tacklers. Things just went our way today.'

Tan, who played for St Andrew's Junior College, would not give his preference for the final opponent.

'We'll just wait for tomorrow and see who wins,' he said.

But his charges had beaten Anglo-Chinese (Barker Road) in the earlier round.

stan
UPDATED @ 10:39 PM

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