Firsts for women’s rugby in Singapore and Malaysia
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Barbarian's Nora Ashikin Bt Abd Basik wrapped up |
In a landmark game for women’s rugby on the Malay Peninsula the Singapore ‘A’ side in their first ever match narrowly defeated the first ever 15-a-side team representing Malaysia, the Malaysian Barbarians.
The game was played at the Royal Selangor Club, Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur and the fact that it was being played at all is testament to the growth of the women’s rugby in this region.
The women’s game in Malaysia has moved on leaps and bounds since the first friendly game against Kowloon only fourteen months ago and the ladies, all who are members of Malaysia’s only women’s team, the Royal Selangor Dingoes were all keen to impress the coaches and be selected to represent their country in the first full international against Singapore, which is scheduled to be played on October 3rd in Singapore.
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Malaysian Barbarians captain Lim Chin Wei |
Some of the squad, which was captained by centre Lim Chin Wei have already donned national colours, representing Malaysia in boxing, weightlifting and football. The Dingoes have forty members and are coached by a dedicated team of five qualified coaches.
Although the Singapore women are ranked in the top four countries in Asia and will compete for a spot in next year’s Wo men’s Rugby World Cup in November, the fact that they were are able to field a reserve grade 15’s side for the first time shows the growth and popularity of the sport amongst women and the beginnings of some depth in available talent. This was indeed a milestone for Singapore women’s rugby.
The Singapore ‘A’ squad were selected by Singapore women's national head coach, Sam Chan, who picked the young talents from the clubs which participated in the Guinness Singapore Rugby Women's 15s league. He is also the advisor to the two women's coaches, Serena Yeoh and Wang Shao Ing, who led the team against the Malaysian Barbarians this weekend in Kuala Lumpur.
The game was error ridden, with numerous penalties awarded against both sides; however both sides showed considerable character when under pressure.
Captained by scrum-half Sim Chiew Hong of Blacks R.F.C., Singapore ‘A’ started the game with much gusto. They were assisted in their cause by the Barbarians giving away repeated penalties for indiscipline at the breakdown and the Singaporeans bossed the first thirty minutes.
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Barbarians Carmel Seeto looks for the offload |
Lack of support for free running outside centre Esther Phua who created overlap situations time and again meant Singapore squandered some early opportunities, but under the direction of reserve scrum-half Samantha Teo; Sim having succumbed to an tenth minute ankle injury, they continued to pressure the home side’s line.
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Former Malaysian national football player and now Barbarians fly-half Normasyirah Zahari (Bibi) |
Reward was forthcoming when Teo fed Lee Yi Tan from a quickly taken penalty and the No8 touched down to put her side 5-0 up.
The Barbarians rose to the challenge and taking advantage of some Singapore indiscipline, flanker Aki Loh Nong managed to score under the posts from a rolling maul. After a successful conversion by Meiling Choong they now led 7-5 at the half-time break.
The Barbarians started far the stronger in the second period, pinning Singapore in their own territory for some twenty minutes. Although Singapore were awarded several penalties, their kicks did not find touch and they were forced to defend counter kicks by the Malaysian full-back Felicia Adele Ng.
Singapore then took the lead, once again through Lee whole stole a line-out ball in the Malaysian 22 and scored her second try of the match.
This seemed to inspire the whole Singapore side who raised their game for the final twenty minutes. They began to dominate the scrums and used the possession to ensure territorial ascendency. The Barbarians defence was staunch though, despite some of the players suffering the debilitating effects of fasting and the visitors could not add to their score. At the final whistle the score stood at 10-7 to Singapore whose more accomplished back-line and eventual domination at the scrums were perhaps the differences between the teams.
For their part the Malaysian girls have come a long way in a very short time. The lack nothing in tenacity and although the Singapore first team will provide much sterner opposition they will not just roll over and die; that’s for sure.
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The victorious Singapore 'A' team |
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Singapore 'A' and the Malaysian Barbarians after their landmark game. |
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The Malaysian Barbarians |
Text with assistance from: Wang Shao-Ing and Susanne Olovsson
Images courtesy: Susanne Olovsson and Eunice Tay
This article is also available in the following Country/s. Singapore
