Anglo Chinese School Independent win 10th straight A Div rugby title after beating Raffles Institution 3 0

SINGAPORE – With a narrow 3-0 win over fierce rivals Raffles Institution (RI) on May 14, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) maintained their vice-like grip on the National School Games A Division rugby title for a 10th consecutive time.

A converted penalty from Rahul Baskar 10 minutes from time was all that separated the sides in a cagey contest at the Ministry of Education (Evans) Stadium.

RI were left gutted, despite having closed the gap on ACS (I) over the last few years.

RI rugby master Tan Mian Ou said: “3-0 is the closest margin we’ve had in the last decade or so (and) it always felt like we were edging closer and closer, but we didn’t manage to get it done and didn’t manage to cross the line today.

“But I’m really proud of the boys, because we have gone from a 34-5 hammering in the group stage against the same opponent and I think there was a lot of courage, desire and fire.

“But such is sport and in life, no matter how close, almost there means not there. We just go back and work harder for next year, as always.”

Despite being hampered by injuries and having last played on April 21, when ACS (I) thrashed St Andrew’s Junior College (SAJC) 70-6 in the semi-finals, coach Adrian Chong was “just happy” that his charges retained their crown in the lowest-scoring final of their 10-title run.

“Obviously Raffles prepared and played really well... I think the long break didn’t help us, to be honest,” said the 58-year-old, who has coached the school for 26 years.

“We had to get the boys back to the grind again and had to pace