Rugby Gold David Dixon Boys Touch Rugby Coach
There are many ways to gauge the success of a rugby season: results, improvement, effort, and camaraderie. Having recently completed the rugby season, the SAS Eagles rugby team can be said to have been successful in all of these ways. After just one week of practice, SAS entered two teams in the Saint Andrews 7’s tournament. The season began in disappointing fashion as the A team lost its first game of the season 5-0. However, in the following eight games, the A team went undefeated, allowing no points and ended up winning the tournament. Perhaps more impressive, the runnersup at the tournament were the SAS B team, which shows the depth of the SAS rugby program. Quickly adapting to ten-a-side rugby, the team defeated LFS 33-7 to kick off our ACSIS campaign in style. Next, we flew to Bangkok to play in a sixteam tournament involving four of the other IASAS schools. Again, the improvement over the course of the tournament was phenomenal as the team scored 151 points, allowed 0, and sealed the tournament with a 28-0 victory over rivals JIS in the final. Upon returning to Singapore, the team played three more games, including a 44-5 victory over UWC at Homecoming. By defeating UWC, SAS secured first place in our ACSIS pool, booking a spot in the finals against Tanglin Trust School in the new year. The team bonded off the field as well as on it, even before the big games of 2012. Team sleepovers and thanksgiving dinners display the close relationship between all the players, leading to the nicknameof the team “The Rugbros.” Riding a 17-game winning streak, the season was clearly off to an exceptionally successful start. Inevitably, the new year brought new obstacles. After just one week of training following the winter holiday, SAS took on Tanglin in the ACSIS final. A strong second half erased a 12 point deficit and the result came down to a final kick as time expired. With the ball rocking the post and falling short, Tanglin edged SAS out 19-17. The next day the U16 team exacted some revenge beating Tanglin Trust in the U16 ACSIS final 35-33, and winning the ACSIS Gold medal. One final tuneup game was played against UWC before the end-of-the-year IASAS tournament. Winning easily in both 10-a-side and 7-a-side games, morale was high as the Eagles flew to Manila. At IASAS, SAS quickly established itself as the powerhouse favorites, the “IASAS Juggernauts” as
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the commentator likened us. Beating hosts Manila 27-5 and Taipei, runners up a year ago, 48-0, that first Thursday had the team off to a good start. On day 2, the team once again defeated defending champions Jakarta, this time 24-5, and finished the round robin games with a perfect 5-0 record by Saturday morning. Scoring over 220 points and conceding only 10, SAS was the clear favorite heading into the final match against JIS. However, Jakarta had not won three consecutive titles for no reason and an early try by JIS put the Eagles behind for the first time at IASAS. By halftime, the Eagles had gone to a narrow 10-5 lead. The second half continued the way the first ended with the Eagles pressing Jakarta’s defenses, but more penalties allowed JIS to score again and Jakarta led 12-10 with five minutes remaining. Five minutes of intense pressure put the Eagles back near the JIS goal line and with less than 60 seconds remaining, captain of two years Andrew Milne scored the decisive try. Shortly after, the full time whistle was blown and parents, supporters and players erupted into a frenzy celebrating SAS’ first rugby gold in six years. Winning three gold medals, SAS rugby has undoubtedly risen to new heights. The growth of the players, coaches, and team as a whole has been phenomenal, and four years of waiting by the seniors has paid off. Returners Matt Conklin and Thomas Milne, and the great showing by the SAS U16s, will keep the growing dynasty alive and bring home even more gold medals in the future. To all the players, parents and fans, thank you for an amazing season and a spectacular four seasons. EAGLES RUGBY CAPTAINS Andrew Milne (C), Richard Vargo (vc), Will Pazos (vc), Ciaran Ross (vc), and Scott Rozen-Levy (vc) 2012 IASAS Team Forwards: Ciarin Ross, Aaron Yappert, Scott RozenLevy, Aidan Hanley, Stephen Long , Chris Dee, Matt Conklin, Jack McCabe, and Dylan Goulding Backs: Bo Hamby, Jake Eisenberg, Will Pazos, Owen Sperling, Richard Vargo, Andrew Milne, and Thomas Milne