The Stephenson show

The Philippines reinforced against Pakistan, what had been patently apparent in their first two games of this round robin tournament, in that their three-quarters had far too much quality and class for the opposition at this level. Added to that there has been no occasion when an individual has ever given such a consummate performance in the colours of the Philippines at any level, as Ned Stephenson did last Saturday.

A proud Pakistan team sing their national anthem

The Philippine pack gave another workmanlike and effective performance, without being flashy and their willingness to release the ball to the back-line, where the team are blessed with a handful of game-breakers, is what set them apart from the other three competing nations throughout the week.

Scrum time for Pakistan and the Philippines

The healthy crowd at the Nomad Sports Club were keenly anticipating this match-up and hoping to avenge defeat at the hands of their opponents some years earlier; the last time Pakistan had visited in 2006, their senior team, about whom little was known, had caused a minor upset in recording a convincing win.

Farrar gets his back-line moving

Numbers for Philippines in attack

Right from the get-go both teams showed that they were determined not to take a backward step and within seven minutes, the first of two of scuffles broke-out. One minute later Ned Stephenson, the find of the series for the home side, got the scoreboard moving with a penalty and it was to be some considerable time before the scorer was able to sit back in his seat, as from this point on the Philippines piled on the points with almost monotonous regularity.

Pakistan who had come through two pitched battles earlier in the week; first in losing the game to Iran late in the piece and then being made to fight for every blade of grass by a determined Laos team seemed fatigued and devoid of ideas or a game plan. Conversely the Philippines looked to lay a solid platform up front and allow the ever improving scrum-half Andrew Farrer to release his backs.

With Hilis back in the fly-half berth, the potent centre partnership of Ben Saunders and Ned Stephenson was restored and it was here in the midfield where Pakistan was comprehensively dismantled. Pakistan had no answer to the supremacy of the Philippines in terms of ball handling skills and lines of running  and in particular the hard running Stephenson was to have an absolute field day.

In only the tenth minute swift hands along the line, with the final pass from Stephenson to Saunders saw the Philippines first try and the first of Stephenson’s four assists. In the seventeenth minute a long range penalty from Andrea Engelbrecht took the Philippines seventeen points ahead and they were now in complete control of the game.

In the following twenty minutes the Philippines quite simply crushed Pakistan’s hopes of a fight-back with some of the best tries to have been scored in the Philippines this year. First livewire Andrew Farrer, always looking for the drop on the opposition took a quick tap penalty and bolted towards the Pakistan posts. He was hauled down metres short but the resulting quick recycle led to fast hands out to grateful wing Junior Aloda, who scored try number two.

It was now Farrer’s turn to become the recipient of the try scoring pass on the first of three occasions and in every case the provider was Stephenson. On the half hour a trademark burst through the midfield and a dexterous offload to his left allowed Farrer to under the posts. Stephenson then converted. Four minutes later Stephenson showed that he is dangerous from any distance when he galloped from half way and unselfishly passed to the supporting Farrer. He then added the extras and took the Philippines out to a 32-0 half-time lead.

Philippines lineout

In the third minute of the second period Nathan Persons took the ball up and quick recycled ball was sent out to Ben Saunders. He then fed his centre partner Stephenson, who hit the ball at top speed and with perfect balance, slicing the Pakistan defence wide open and scoring under the posts.

Midway through the half and down to fourteen men with Aloda in the sin bin for a late tackle, Stephenson collected the ball in broken play and jinked towards the Pakistan line. This time, by way of a bit of variety he fed the ball off his right hand to the ever present Farrer. Quite what Mr. Farrer will have to buy his teammate for gifting him an international hat-trick is unknown, but to Farrer’s credit he was there on hand on every occasion and he along with Saunders and Stephenson will be sure to get an invite to the national senior training camp next year.

Another Philippine player who shone on Saturday was break-away Tim Van Weerdhuizen of Faith Academy. Supremely fit and with an ever improving feel for the game, he was a constant thorn in Pakistan’s side all afternoon.  So much so in fact, that with fifteen minutes remaining and the rain now steadily falling, frustration got the better of Pakistan and one of their number kicked out at the prostrate Van Weerdhuizen. The resulting melee was an unfortunate blight on the game for the Philippines and several of their number, including unfortunately the star of the show Stephenson, who was shown yellow for his retaliatory part, must learn to show more restraint.

The final fifteen minutes were somewhat of an anti climax as the rain put paid to adventurous rugby and Pakistan’s decision to kick for goal when 46-0 down summed up their ever increasing disillusionment with their inability to gain dominance in any facet of the game.

The final score of 46-3 meant that the Philippines had won all three games, scoring 128 points including eighteen tries, and only conceded six points. With sixteen of the Philippine tries scored by their three-quarters, it is clear that the future is very bright for the national senior team and if they are able to assemble a set of forwards with anywhere near the potential of these guys coach Matt Cullen’s dream of Asian 5 Nations Division 1 rugby may not be so far-fetched after all.

 

 

Pakistan, like the protagonists in the afternoon’s first match utilised only home grown players. It is without doubt that the Philippines were given a considerable advantage in being able to field players who have grown up playing the game week in week out in some of the world’s rugby strongholds. It is undecided as yet whether the Philippines will be granted promotion to Division 1 at under 20 level as Japan may decide to rejoin the tournament next year, in which case they would unfortunately miss out.

Iran finished their tournament on a high with a five try, 29-0 win over the brave, but physically inferior Laos team. First half tries from flanker Md Sepheri and full-back Meysam Reyhanifard gave them a 12-0 half-time lead and they added a further three through Arman Ghaznavi, Hamed Nobari and Darioush Mohamadi in the second period.

Determined Laos defence

There is no doubt that Iran has the potential to move up the Asian rugby rankings in the future. They have naturally big and strong forwards and athletic three-quarters, however they have to be prepared to utilise a variety of game strategies, not just play nine man rugby game after game. Although unquestionably disadvantaged by size, it is the three-quarters where Laos need to improve the most. Their forwards are being led by two relatively experienced campaigners in the two props and their pack definitely gains confidence from them. The outside backs clearly need more game time, but these lads love the game and will improve. Don’t expect them to go scoreless next year.

Images courtesy: Sam Chittick