Montfort C Div Rugby Lions M1 Schools Rugby Series Runner-Up

Our C Div Montfort Rugby Lions ended up as Overall Series 1st Runner-Up for the Under-14 category in the M1 Schools Rugby Series organised by Singapore Rugby and local telco M1. The only team that had a better record than Montfort in this year's M1 Schools Rugby Series was ACS Barker Road. Our Runner-Up position in the three-tournament series was secured after the Montfort Rugby C Div Lions took part in the third and final round of the M1 Schools Series U14 on Saturday August 29th at Yio Chu Kang Stadium. A Cup Semi-Final appearance in the third & final tournament of the series was enough for Montfort to be crowned as the second most powerful team in the 10s rugby in Singapore. Only ACS Barker is a better 10s outfit than Montfort.

For the third and final tournament, Montfort was drawn in Group B together with Damai Secondary and Regent Secondary.

The tournament format was a 10-a-side match with each played for 10 minutes flat.

In our first group match on Saturday, our C Div ruggers beat Damai 12-0 with lock Azhar opening the scoring with a try. Our speedy winger Randell Toh added another try after a burst down the wings. Our Captain, Mohd Shamir, converted one of the two tries before the referee called time in the first match.

In our second match for the day, Montfort turned on the style and ran in three tries against Regent Secondary with Dominic Daniel, Randell Toh and Mohd Shamir scoring the tries against a valiant Regent Secondary. Shamir converted two of the three tries.

With two wins out of two group matches, Montfort emerged as Group B champions and were paired against the Group C champions - ACS Independent - in the Cup Semi-Finals.

The Cup Semi-Final was a pulsating match with our Montfort Ruggers pushing their ACSI opponents before succumbing to two converted tries from the awesome ACSI forward pack.

With the Semi-Final defeat, Montfort left the tournament with a Top 4 placing for the day and Overall Series 1st Runner-Up.

The M1 Schools Series, a three tournament series, sees teams being awarded points for each tournament that they take part in.

The Overall Champion of the M1 Schools Rugby Series will be determined by the team with the most Series points as set out below for each tournament:

Cup Winner (1) 30 points
Cup Runner Up (1) 28 points
Cup Semi-Finalist (2) 26 points

Plate Winner (1) 22 points
Plate Runners Up (1) 20 points
Plate Semi-Finalist (2) 18 points

Bowl Winners (1) 14 points
Bowl Runners Up (1) 12 points

Shield Winner (1) 8 points
Shield Runners Up (1) 6 points

Participating Team 2 points

Our C Div Montfort Rugby Lions had emerged as Plate Champions in the first tournament in March, Cup Runners-Up in the second tournament in June and Cup Semi-Finalists.

The cumulative points of 76 points meant that our C Div Montfort Rugby Lions ended up as Overall Series 1st Runner-Up for the Under-14 category. The only team that had a better record than Montfort was ACS Barker Road.

Well Done Montfort C Div Ruggers!

The Tens Squad over the past three tournaments:
Matthew Ho, Alvin Yap, Lewis Syn, Zulhilman, Kang Dong Wan, Chua Chinnakrit, Dominic Daniel Kumar, Mohd Shamir, Kirish Deepan, Ivan Lim, Randell Toh, Kenny Lee, Azhar, Harry Stokes, Zech Wong, Mohd Syahiran, Solomon Soh and Ryan Tai.

Coaches: Euan Morrison (Head Coach), Low Feng Hua and Pan Chao (Assistant Coaches)
Attending Teachers for 29th August: Mr Singh and Mr Yong

Match Picture Courtesy of ACSI Parent Volunteer Mr Richard Seow

C Div Match Report 10: Montfort vs Greenridge

C Div Captain, Mohd Shamir, handing the National Schools Rugby Championship (Plate) Trophy to Montfort Principal, Mr Andrew Tan

The Montfort Rugby Lions - C Div Rugby Champions (Plate)

Rugby Brothers: Montfort & Greenridge Players coming together


Montfort No. 8 Kang Dong Wan sportingly consoling his Greenridge counterpart

Montfort Rugby juggernaut mauling their way to the Greenridge try-line

The Montfort Rugby C Div team emerged as Plate Champions in the National Schools C Division Championshiop after beating Greenridge Secondary 26-22 in a hard-fought final played on Friday 21 August at Saint Andrew's Secondary. The win meant that Montfort attained its highest ever placing in the National Schools Rugby Championship.

Both teams played a pulsating match that saw both teams giving their best performance for this season.

Both teams scored four tries each but it was the deadly goal-kicking of Montfort Captain Mohd Shamir that sealed the match for Montfort.

Montfort converted three of the four tries whilst Greenridge was only able to convert one of their tries.

Both sides showed great spirit.

For Montfort, the front row of Matthew Ho, Alvin Yap and Lewis Syn dominated their opponents with deadly scrummaging.

The second-row partnership of Kenny Lee and Azhar gave the much-needed push in the scrum's engine room.

The loose forward trio of Kang Dong Wan, Chinnakrit and Eugene Sito were at the breakdown almost instantenously.

The backline was well-marshalled by Captain Mohd Shamir who linked up well with our Kiwi scrum-half Harry Stokes who gave it his all despite the sweltering heat and suffocating humidity.

Centres Kirish and Ivan were devastating in the line-breaks and defensive tackling duties whilst Dominic Daniel was his usual calm self in the full-back slot .. cooly cleaning up high balls.

Wingers Musli and Randell were equally tenacious in the tackle counts.

Above all the match today was a great advert for rugby. The Montfort boys consoled their beaten compatriots from Greenridge at the end of the final whistle by referee Mr Mohd Azhar Yusof.

Mr Mohd Azhar policed the match well and controlled a high stakes match very well with his calm and composed approach. The former RI rugby master truly made the match a joy to watch for the neutrals with his seamless refereeing.

In the end, the real winner of today's Final was rugby as both sets of players set aside their rivalry and shared a combined team group picture after the match. They truly deserved the applause from the spectators, made up of parents, old boys and school senior management, who thronged Saint Andrew's.

Scorers:
Tries: Mohd Shamir (2), Kenny Lee, Kang Dong Wan
Conversions: Mohd Shamir (3)

Montfort Rugby Lions vs Greenridge
Props: Matthew Ho and Alvin Yap
Hooker: Lewis Syn
Locks: Kenny Lee and Azhar
Flankers: Eugene Sito and Chinakrit
No 8: Kang Dong Wan
Scrum Half: Harry Stokes
Fly-Half: Mohd Shamir (C)
Centres: Kirish Deepan and Ivan Lim
Wingers: Musli and Randell Toh
Full-Back: Dominic Daniel
Subs (Used): Syahiran

Friday August 21st at St. Andrew's Secondary Field, 445pm
Ref: Mohd Azhar Yusof (Singapore Rugby Union Referees)
Yellow Card: Nil
Red Card: Nil
Attending Teachers-in-Charge: Mr Singh, Miss Rashidah, Miss Jennifer and Mr Yong.

C Div 2009 Cumulative Record

Matches Played: 10

Won: 7 Lost: 3 Drew: Nil

Win/Loss Ratio: 70% Win

Total Tries Scored: 59

Top Try Scorer: Mohd Shamir (18 Tries)

Possible Conversions: 59

Actual Conversions: 29

Top Conversion Kicker: Mohd Shamir (25 Conversions)

Red Cards: Nil

Yellow Cards: Nil

C Div Match Report 9: Montfort vs Junyuan

The Montfort Rugby C Div Lions secured their place in the C Div Plate Final with a powerful performace against Junyuan Sec in the Plate Semi-Finals at Saint Andrew's Secondary on Tuesday August 18th.

Montfort beat Junyuan 39-5 in a pulsating semi-final which saw Montfort score seven tries.

Our speedy winger, Randall Toh, opened the try fest with a flash move after eight minutes.

Taking the cue from the tireless running an leadership of their captain, Mohd Shamir, Montfort piled on three more tries by half-time and went into the break leading 24-0.

But Junyuan came back battling in the second-half with a try.

But Montfort were able to hold off the pressure to run in three more tries.

To their credit, Junyuan didn't give up and tackled right up till the last minute. Kudos to Junyuan's head coach Slemat Rakisan and Old Boy Coach Yazid.

Match referee Marius Franken controlled the match well and had a firm grip on the proceedings and the clean record of the match was a testimony to his cool professional handling of the match.

Three of Montfort's seven tries (42.8% success rate) were converted by Mohd Shamir.

The Forward of the Match was Kenny Lee whilst the Back of the Match was Harry Stokes.

Montfort will be meeting Greenridge in the Plate Final either this Friday or next Monday.

Scorers:
Tries: Randell Toh (3), Mohd Shamir (3), Dominic
Conversions: Shamir (3)

Montfort Rugby Lions vs Junyuan
Props: Matthew Ho and Alvin Yap
Hooker: Lewis Syn
Locks: Kenny Lee and Azhar
Flankers: Eugene Sito and Chinakrit
No 8: Kang Dong Wan
Scrum Half: Harry Stokes
Fly-Half: Mohd Shamir (C)
Centres: Kirish Deepan and Ivan Lim
Wingers: Musli and Randell Toh
Full-Back: Dominic Daniel
Subs (Used): Balvinder Singh and Fakhrul

Tuesday August 18th at St. Andrew's Secondary School Field, 445pm
Ref: Marius Franken (Singapore Rugby Union Referees)
H/T: 24-0 Montfort
Yellow Card: Nil
Red Card: Nil

Attending Teachers-in-Charge: Mr Singh, Miss Rashidah and Miss Jennifer.

C Div Match Report 8: Montfort vs Greendale

Securing their place in the C Div Plate Semi-Final, the Montfort Rugby Lions ran in an impressive thirteen tries in an awesome display of pride, power and passion against Greendale in the Plate Quarter-Finals at Greendale Secondary's home ground on Friday August 14th.

Leading by example, our C Div captain, Mohd Shamir opened the try fest with a well-worked move after seven minutes.

Taking the cue from the tireless running of their captain, Montfort piled on the stunned Greendale team and by half-time were leading 43-0.

Seventeen minutes into the second-half, Montfort hit the magical point mark with a converted try that brought the score to 81-0.

The game was ended at the 47th minute mark as part of the "mercy rule" in force for the schools rugby that ends a match when it crosses the 80 point mark.

Match referee Kelvin Lee controlled the match well and had a firm grip on the proceedings and the clean record of the match was a testimony to his professional handling of the match.

Eight of the thirteen tries (61.5% success rate) were converted by the Montfort dead-ball specialists.

There is still area for improvement in the goal-kicking department and is still a source of worry for the coaching panel.

The coaching panel named Kenny Lee as the Man-of-The-Match who lit up the first half with an awesome ball-in-hand rampage down the left wing which ended with a try.

With the win, Montfort secured a place in the Plate Semi-Finals against Junyuan Secondary next Tuesday.

Scorers:
Tries: Mohd Shamir (6), Chinnakrit (2), Randell (2), Dominic, Kenny Lee, Zech Wong
Conversions: Shamir (8)

Montfort Rugby Lions vs Greendale
Props: Matthew Ho and Alvin Yap
Hooker: Lewis Syn
Locks: Kenny Lee and Azhar
Flankers: Eugene Sito and Chinakrit
No 8: Kang Dong Wan
Scrum Half: Harry Stokes
Fly-Half: Mohd Shamir (C)
Centres: Kirish Deepan and Ivan Lim
Wingers: Musli and Randell Toh
Full-Back: Dominic Daniel
Subs (Used): Zech Wong, Balvinder Singh, Clement Yeo, Jonathan Goh, Solomon, Zulhilman, Ryan Tai

Friday August 14th at Greendale Secondary School Field, 33opm
Ref: Kelvin Lee (Singapore Rugby Union Referees)
H/T: 43-0 Montfort
Yellow Card: Nil
Red Card: Nil

Attending Teachers-in-Charge: Mr Singh and Miss Rashidah

C Div Match Report 7: Montfort vs RI

The Montfort C Div Rugby Lions put up a brave display against Raffles Institution but were humbled 27-0 at RI on Tuesday 11th August.

This was Montfort's second defeat in the 2009 C Division 2nd Round campaign and it meant that Montfort would now drop to the Plate Quarter-Finals of the National Schools Rugby Championship. We will meet either Evergreen or Greenridge in the Plate Quarter-Finals.

RI had invested heavily in an impressive coaching panel and are well-supported by their Senior Management, the Old Boys and RI Teacher-in-Charge Bernard Chan.

In Tuesday's match, Montfort made RI work hard in the first half and restricted RI to two unconverted tries and RI took 10-0 lead into the break.

In the second-half, RI put in a further three tries and one conversion to make it 27-0.

Despite the heavy defeat, Montfort's coaching panel of Euan, Feng Hua, Song You and Pan Chao felt that our players put up a brave performance in the forwards and backline respectively and tackled their hearts out. RI's five tries were scored as a result of five crucial miss tackles in our 22. So a painful but valuable lesson for our boys.

Nonetheless congratulations to RI for making it to the Cup Semi-Finals vs ACSI.

Scorers (Montfort):
Tries: Nil
Conversions: Nil
Penalty Goal: Nil

Props: Matthew Ho and Alvin Yap
Hooker: Lewis Syn
Locks: Azhar and Kenny Lee
Flankers: Eugene and Chinakrit
No 8: Kang Dong Wan
Scrum Half: Jonathan Goh
Fly-Half: Mohd Shamir
Centres: Kirish and Ivan Lim
Wingers: Mohd Syahiran and Randell Toh
Full-Back: Dominic Daniel
Sub: Balvinder, Musli, Harry, Sean, Fakhrul, Dzulhilman

Tuesday 11th August at Raffles Institution School Rugby Field, 445pm
Ref: Kelvin Lee (Singapore Rugby Union Referees)
H/T: 10-0 RI
Yellow Card: 01 (RI)
Red Card: Nil

Attending Teachers-in-Charge: Mr Singh

C Div Match Report 6: Montfort vs Unity

The Montfort Rugby Lions C Div team scored an impressive 40-0 away win against Unity Secondary on Tuesday 4th August at Saints Village.

Six tries were scored in a match that was initally billed to be a tight affair.

But it turned out to be anything but tight.

This was the C Div first win in the 2nd Round of the C Div competition.

Montfort opened the scoring with captain fantastic Mohd Shamir. Further tries were added by Randell Toh, Alvin Yap, Zech Wong, Syahiran and Ivan Lim.

Although Unity were no pushovers, Montfort was still able to lead 19-0 at half-time before coming out even more determined to make it 40-0 by the final whistle.

Our goal-kicking, an area of concern in recent weeks, had shown improvement with five of the six tries converted by Mohd Shamir.

Another positive is the solid scrummaging from our forward pack. This season has also unearthed the versatility of Kenny Lee who can play at either prop, 2nd Row or No. 8. He reminds me of the great All-Black prop Carl Hayman who in his younger days was a rampaging Number 8 and occasional 2nd Row.

A second positive that emerged is that this C Division squad is very tightly knit and are well-led by their captain.

The coaching panel - Euan Morrison, Low Feng Hua and Ng Song Yu - decided there was no Man-of-the-Match performance as it was finely balanced team effort today.

Scorers:
Tries: Mohd Shamir, Randell Toh, Alvin Yap, Zech Wong, Syahiran and Ivan.
Conversions: Mohd Shamir (5)

Montfort Rugby Lions vs Unity
Props: Matthew Ho and Alvin Yap
Hooker: Lewis Syn
Locks: Kenny Lee and Azhar
Flankers: Eugene and Chinakrit
No 8: Kang Dong Wan
Scrum Half: Jonathan Goh
Fly-Half: Mohd Shamir
Centres: Zech Wong and Ivan Lim
Wingers: Mohd Syahiran and Randell Toh
Full-Back: Dominic Daniel
Subs (Used): Fakhrul, Balvinder, Harry Stokes, Clement Yeo, Musli, Solomon Soh and Zulhilman.

Tuesday Aug 4th at St Andrew's Secondary School Field, 445pm
Ref: Kelvin Lee (Singapore Rugby Union Referees)
H/T: 19-0 Montfort
Yellow Card: Nil
Red Card: Nil

Attending Teachers-in-Charge: Miss Rashidah and Miss Jennifer