On Sunday February 11th, 2007 the Lycée Français de Singapour (http://www.lyceefrancais.edu.sg/) hosted an mixed invitational Touch Rugby tournament with 10 teams invited to take part.
The Pukeko's were drawn into a group containing representatives from United World College (UWC), Lycée Français parents and friends (Pastouche), Bucks and the Singapore Recreational Club (Barra 6ers).
The group games began slowly for the Pukeko's who fought out a 3-3 draw with the UWC team in the 9:10am timeslot. With several untried combinations and new team members joining the fray it was a game that stuttered more than flowed, but the team set their sites on rectifying this in the three remaining group matches. Adding to concerns was an early injury to Clifford Wong sustained in a collision with one of the UWC players.
Entering the second match against the Barra 6ers the Pukeko's team ended their team talk with a cry of 'FUN' which became the catch-cry for the remaining games. The Barra 6ers contained representatives from the SRC team who won the previous NTL tournament so a tough game was expected. Fortunately a quick start by the Pukeko's settled the nerves and a tight contest was avoided with the Pukeko's running our relatively comfortable winners 3-0. Wins in the other matches to improving Bucks and UWC teams however ensured that there still was a lot to play for in the upcoming group matches.
The third of the group games saw the Pukeko's hit their straps. Despite a slow start in the first few minutes they simply overpowered the Pastouche team with high intensity running and their constant drives deep into the opposition half. Of note in this game was the way that the girls contributed with structured dumps and splits showing the way which the guys were able to follow winning 10-1. (Ed- Tony getting stepped and scored on by a speedy 10 year old french lass, we think he liked her!) The Pastouche team deserved credit for their persistence against teams in their group who are regular STL members and certainly can hold their heads high for what they brought to the tournament. As for the Pukeko's, it was another hurdle crossed and all looked on track for the final group game against Bucks.
The final group game against Bucks had the potential to be difficult. The Bucks team had been playing some good football in their early group games and under the Singapore afternoon sun fatigue certainly was a potential factor in the game. Another quick start to the game by the Pukeko's however rendered all these factors mute as they setup the game in a similar manner to that against the Pastouche team - fast running and drives setting the platform for an impressive win 9-1. Other positives to come out of the game were strong runs by both rookies Tony and Lixin which showed they were starting to gel with the 'regular' Pukeko team members.
From the other side of the draw UWC and Bedok met to determine who would take up the first place in the final. Strong performances all day from both teams ensured a closely contested match and so it was with a 3-3 full time score meaning drop-off extra time followed. Chances to both teams in this period went missing but it was ultimately Bedok who pulled through with perhaps their experience proving the difference in the end; they now awaited to see who their opponents would be in the final.
In the other semi-final it was a matchup against Pukeko regular final opponents Bro-town, who were missing several key players. A closely contested start followed as the teams gave little away but towards the mid-way point a slightly more cohesive Pukeko's outfit pulled ahead and managed to stay there, seeing out the match with a solid win 4-1. Nerves were a noticeable factor within the Pukeko's side however with almost all of the team trying to do more with the ball than was required leading to erratic play, increased turnovers and ultimately a poor performance. They would need to get rid of these before the final if they were to be competitive; there Bedok lay waiting to capitalise on any such mistakes.
From the outset the final was not going to plan for the Pukeko's. The nervous energy displayed in the semi-final only increased at the start of this game and they were soon behind 2-1 to a Bedok team whose reliable football was laying the platform for a good win. At about the 10 minute mark the momentum changed. With Devon Wong leading the way his experience was to perhaps prove the difference as the team lifted on his back with a more solid platform being laid and correct options being taken in attack. Soon it was the Pukeko's in the ascendancy and once they drew level at 2-2 it was back to being anyones game. The Pukeko's finished the stronger however with two quick tries seeing out the match as they won their second invitational tournament in a row, following on from the one gained in the SRC tournament several weeks earlier. After a long day it was a good reward for a Pukeko's team that tried to enjoy their games along with playing to win.
Special thanks should go to the Lycée Français de Singapour for organising the event, the referees for their efforts on such a hot day and all the students who also gave their time to make the day a success. One special mention also goes out to Maureen and Hemi for their efforts without which the day would not have been the success that it was. At one point Mo refereed 5 games back to back and along with her other duties on the day it was a tremendous effort.
We can now all look forward to the start of the upcoming Singapore Summer Touch League where we can do it all over again!
Pukeko's - OUT!
Article by the 'Bullet' - John Holmes
The Pukeko's were drawn into a group containing representatives from United World College (UWC), Lycée Français parents and friends (Pastouche), Bucks and the Singapore Recreational Club (Barra 6ers).
The group games began slowly for the Pukeko's who fought out a 3-3 draw with the UWC team in the 9:10am timeslot. With several untried combinations and new team members joining the fray it was a game that stuttered more than flowed, but the team set their sites on rectifying this in the three remaining group matches. Adding to concerns was an early injury to Clifford Wong sustained in a collision with one of the UWC players.
Entering the second match against the Barra 6ers the Pukeko's team ended their team talk with a cry of 'FUN' which became the catch-cry for the remaining games. The Barra 6ers contained representatives from the SRC team who won the previous NTL tournament so a tough game was expected. Fortunately a quick start by the Pukeko's settled the nerves and a tight contest was avoided with the Pukeko's running our relatively comfortable winners 3-0. Wins in the other matches to improving Bucks and UWC teams however ensured that there still was a lot to play for in the upcoming group matches.
The third of the group games saw the Pukeko's hit their straps. Despite a slow start in the first few minutes they simply overpowered the Pastouche team with high intensity running and their constant drives deep into the opposition half. Of note in this game was the way that the girls contributed with structured dumps and splits showing the way which the guys were able to follow winning 10-1. (Ed- Tony getting stepped and scored on by a speedy 10 year old french lass, we think he liked her!) The Pastouche team deserved credit for their persistence against teams in their group who are regular STL members and certainly can hold their heads high for what they brought to the tournament. As for the Pukeko's, it was another hurdle crossed and all looked on track for the final group game against Bucks.
The final group game against Bucks had the potential to be difficult. The Bucks team had been playing some good football in their early group games and under the Singapore afternoon sun fatigue certainly was a potential factor in the game. Another quick start to the game by the Pukeko's however rendered all these factors mute as they setup the game in a similar manner to that against the Pastouche team - fast running and drives setting the platform for an impressive win 9-1. Other positives to come out of the game were strong runs by both rookies Tony and Lixin which showed they were starting to gel with the 'regular' Pukeko team members.
From the other side of the draw UWC and Bedok met to determine who would take up the first place in the final. Strong performances all day from both teams ensured a closely contested match and so it was with a 3-3 full time score meaning drop-off extra time followed. Chances to both teams in this period went missing but it was ultimately Bedok who pulled through with perhaps their experience proving the difference in the end; they now awaited to see who their opponents would be in the final.
In the other semi-final it was a matchup against Pukeko regular final opponents Bro-town, who were missing several key players. A closely contested start followed as the teams gave little away but towards the mid-way point a slightly more cohesive Pukeko's outfit pulled ahead and managed to stay there, seeing out the match with a solid win 4-1. Nerves were a noticeable factor within the Pukeko's side however with almost all of the team trying to do more with the ball than was required leading to erratic play, increased turnovers and ultimately a poor performance. They would need to get rid of these before the final if they were to be competitive; there Bedok lay waiting to capitalise on any such mistakes.
From the outset the final was not going to plan for the Pukeko's. The nervous energy displayed in the semi-final only increased at the start of this game and they were soon behind 2-1 to a Bedok team whose reliable football was laying the platform for a good win. At about the 10 minute mark the momentum changed. With Devon Wong leading the way his experience was to perhaps prove the difference as the team lifted on his back with a more solid platform being laid and correct options being taken in attack. Soon it was the Pukeko's in the ascendancy and once they drew level at 2-2 it was back to being anyones game. The Pukeko's finished the stronger however with two quick tries seeing out the match as they won their second invitational tournament in a row, following on from the one gained in the SRC tournament several weeks earlier. After a long day it was a good reward for a Pukeko's team that tried to enjoy their games along with playing to win.
Special thanks should go to the Lycée Français de Singapour for organising the event, the referees for their efforts on such a hot day and all the students who also gave their time to make the day a success. One special mention also goes out to Maureen and Hemi for their efforts without which the day would not have been the success that it was. At one point Mo refereed 5 games back to back and along with her other duties on the day it was a tremendous effort.
We can now all look forward to the start of the upcoming Singapore Summer Touch League where we can do it all over again!
Pukeko's - OUT!
Article by the 'Bullet' - John Holmes
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