Malaysian teams dominate Bali Tens and Sevens

In the biggest rugby event ever to be held in Indonesia and played under lights for the first time, the 2009 XP Xclusive Property Bali 10’s Open Cup, Asian Cup and inaugural Bali Women 7’s Cup were dominated by Malaysian teams.

In the first women’s rugby tournament ever held in Indonesia, The Bali Women 7’s, RC Selangor Dingoes edged out their bigger rivals from South Darwin, 7-5 in the final.

Women's Sevens Cup winners RSC Dingoes

In the Asian Cup, played under Indonesian Development rules, permitting a maximum of two expatriate players from each squad to be on the field at any given time, the MAS Cougars were too strong for the Kotekas from Papua. The Kotekas, running on shoestring budget proved to be the strongest Indonesian side by beating their big city rivals, the Jakarta Bantengs in a close semi final, on their way to the Asian Cup Final.

The Bantengs take on the Kotekas

In the Open Cup, the pre -tournament seeding proved to be accurate, with the top four seeds reaching the semi-finals.

In the first of those, the NS Wanderers from Malaysia, recent champions of the Blacks Midnight Tens and the Jonah Jones Sevens, were clear winners over 2007 champions University of West Australia, 17-0 .In the second semi-final the Canterbury High School Old Boys from Christchurch could not stop the 2008 winners COBRA from booking their spot in the final with a 17-5 victory.

NS Wanderers take clean ball against Curtin University

This set up a rematch of last months 2009 Singapore Blacks Midnight Tens final and the Jonah Jones 7’s final, between Malaysia’s two top sides NS Wanderers and COBRA. In a an intense final played under the lights, a try after the fulltime hooter confirmed  the Wanderers as Malaysia’s in form side at the moment coming out on top 12-7.

Tens Open Cup winners NS Wanderers

The Plate Final was a nail biting affair that went to sudden death extra-time with the Wave Weavers of Hong Kong kicking a drop goal penalty, to seal a15- 12 win over the Balmoral Hellfish.

Text and images courtesy: Rodney Holt

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