SMSS still in the running for title

What say you on the issue below?

HOSTS SM Sains Selangor (SMSS) crushed Bintang Rugby Club’s (BRC) hope for a comfortable position at the top of table in the Under-16 age-group of the second Crown Relocations league at the school’s field in Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, recently.

They earned a hard-fought 15-14 victory to stay in the running for the title. The final outcome of the race for the title will depend on their performances in the remaining matches.

Even the unrelenting downpour throughout the day failed to stop SMSS from stamping their mark with an early domination in the match.

Closely contested: SMSS (in blue) and BRC challenging for the ball from the line out.

In the first half of 30-minute play, they went ahead 5-0 with an unconverted try through Arif Ihsan.

Despite controlling the match and keeping BRC on the visitors’ half, SMSS failed to extend their lead going into the interval.

SMSS’ long-serving coach Raja Idris Raja Ali admitted they were lacking the instinct in their finishing and committed several errors that prevented them from crossing the line.

Temper flaring: BRC players (in red) trying to stop Collins from charging at Hairul (on the ground) in an intense moment at the end of the first half

“We were not patient enough in linking the moves in phases. As a result, we gave away the possession and failed to make the opportunities count.

“We allowed BRC to ease the pressure and deny us from scoring,” he added.

In the second half, both sides were reduced to 14 players when Mohd Hairul Mohd Halip of SMSS and Nick Collins from BRC were instructed to watch from the sin bin for 10 minutes after having a go at each other in the closing stage of the first half.

And BRC capitalised on SMSS’ poor ball-handling in a counter attack and BRC flyhalf Mark Lawrence converted Nathan Pike’s try for a shortlived 7-5 lead.

SMSS replied through Amirul Afiq Abdul Halim for a three-point advantage (10-7) before Pike contributing another try converted by Lawrence.

In the end, Amirul sealed the match for SMSS with his second successful attempt for a touch down to wrap up the encounter.

Meanwhile, BRC emerged as champions in the Under-14 section as they stayed undefeated against four other sides - SMSS, Sekolah Berasrama Penuh Integ-rasi Penuh Gombak (IG), Victoria Institution (VI) and St John’s Institution (SJI) - in the fray.

They chalked up an unassailable lead with a maximum of 20 points in the league competition.