Right after Saturday's grueling contact tournament at YCK stadium, the junior girls took part in the annual Junior Touch Rugby Invitational Tournament, Organised by Singapore Polytechnic.

Okay, I'm going to cut out the formal talk.

So we had only girls down which really only translated to 5.5 girls becuase of Yiwen's ankle injury, Dora's slip-disc and Gen being slightly anemic (how do you describe low blood count or sth?) okayy, so anyway, clever Yiwen injured her ankle further during warm up which meant that the girls and no subs to play with. -_________- Sian 1/2 rite. Wait, there's more.

The format of the tournament was round-robin which meant that we had to play all 7 teams namely, Raffles JC Alpha, Raffles JC Beta, Innova JC, Pioneer JC, Temesek Poly, Singapore Poly and Nanyang Poly. A win translates to 3 points, a draw, 1 point and 0 points for a lost.

First match was against RJC (A) and we won 2-0. First try was a beautiful breakthrough by Seng and an even better slide dive-try. Second was Adelyn running hard into a gap, accelerating and placing the ball down in the try-area. I will admit that I almost teared when I saw the first try. On defense, the girls worked very hard; communicating and shuffling ALOT and helping each other despite being outta breath and tired.

With morales high, the girls were really happy that they won the match on their own. Not being complacent, they remained calm prepared themselves to face NYP in the second match. Almost similar to us, NYP had only 1 sub. The first try of the match came from NYP with a quick dump and split which blurred our defenders. However, our girls stayed strong and pulled up their socks. Indeed, their hardwork paid off and with some quick foot work from Adelyn, she broke through and equalised the game. It was anyone's game to take now and our girls hung in there with no subs. We drew with NYP in the end 1-1.

The third game was against RJC (B). I can't really rmbed the score. I think we won with 1 try or drew. But there was this v nice straightening up into a gap from Gen which almost landed a try and but the referee ruled that she was tagged. Also, there was a breakthrough from RJC through the "Referee-Gap" and ran all the way to the try-line. It was most unlucky that she lost control of the ball and was not awarded the try. BUT SHE RAN SO MUCH AND HARD OKAY! I think cos the girls were very tired, they started to be lazy and gave slow and predictable passes which allowed a RJC defender to intercept and run with the ball to their try-line. But out of no where, and I really mean no where, I saw a puny little girl chasing her AND SHE CAUGHT UP AND SHE TOUCHED HER BEFORE SHE COULD PUT THE BALL DOWN. It was UNBELIEVABLE. The girl who chased while the rest hung back (lazy pigs) was Adelyn.

Next was Innova JC and we drew with them 0-0. Innova's focus was on defence and our girls kept diving relentlessly but was denied by Innova's touch. Though tired and exhausted, the girls did well in hanging in there and gave their best. It was evident that adraneline was the ingredient that kept pushing them. Could not really rmb IJ's game much, cept that there were alot of penalties given against us because the girls were tired to get back onside with the ref before making the touch. Oh, their Coach was the only Coach who came shake hands with me. HAHAH!

The game aft IJ was TP. I'll keep you all in suspense for the score but OUR DEFENSE WAS THE TIGHTEST EVER. There were super good covers and really super alot of comminucation. It was really amazing and the girls showed me what was mind over matter. It was under the midday sun and they were in there working very hard and making every touch count. Their touches and initiative to move up was encouraging.

Despite the fact that our girls did not manage to drive to ball up even up to their own try line; always kept at our defending half, and that TP has like buddy-subs which meant that they had at least 5 subs, WE DREW WITH THEM 0-0. I tell you, there were ALOT of instances where there were 6 NP defenders on 4 TP attackers and when the ball was swung out, the defence line worked and shuffled and covered every gap/seam. No Pirahna could have swam through THAT! (: Very good covers by Gen on the wing and great kneel/dive-touches from Dora as well. Pushing up when we were on always made TP v frustrated. WHEEEEEE!! And guess what? Though TP emerged as the Champions of the Tournament, Np was the only team they did not win or lose to because we drew with them. V v v proud of the girls and was v overwhelmed when we held them. Though Gen had difficulties breathing aft the final whistle blew, all was well and the girls prepared themselves for the next game against SP.

Aft TP's game, SP's coach came to talk to us and was surprised that we had no subs and were doing fine. She also commented that we had v v v good synergy, spirit and teamwork. Well done!
All eyes were on our side of the field when we faced SP, the home team, it was like Chelsea Vs ManUtd, Red vs Blue. I could see that all the girls were literally dying and v v v v tired from the aftnn I-feel-sleepy-mood and from Contact the day before. But they managed to enjoy themselves during the game, smiling and laughing at each other's stupid mistakes on field. It was v enjoyable to watch from the sidelines seeing them having fun. Defence was good as they did 12s on us, dragging and opening the centre gap. Though we lost 2-0 to them, the girls commented that they felt the game was short compared to others. Because why, you all were having fun! Their first try was a beautiful dummy-scoop from them, and the supporter who tried eventually, dump the ball cleanly and clearly. Personally, I would only like to think that we lost to SP by only this try because the second try was erm, lucky on SP's part. Nuff' said. But the girls were smiling and laughing and when walking off.

THE LAST AND FINAL MATCH was against PJC. Though weary and lungs collapsing, the girls won them 2-0. The first try was a simple commit and pass to the wing and a full body dive by Natasha. Now that I think of it, I think she scored during the RJC b game also. I'm old, cant rmb. Second try was by Adelyn or Seng who broke through the link-wing gap and placed the ball. I can't rmb, was busy being happy. Though the scored could have been better, I guess it really didnt matter since we were alr leading and the number of tries did not matter for the point system. There was a v confusing instance where WanHwa broke through and placed the ball in the try area, only to find out that she was the dummy-half. While the ref was explaining why he denied our try, the v alert Natasha ran past the dazed PJC defenders and screamed to Wan Hwa who had the ball still in contact with the ball on the floor: GIVE ME THE BALL! caught it and proceeded to try. However, the referee ruled that it was a replay of the ball, thus not acknowledging the try. It was good work however and v amazed by our girls sudden responses like this.

Overall, I had fun watching you all from the sidelines and I really believe you all could have done it all along (:

Thanks for the supporters who came down and lost their voices (me) and were water-ladies. Thank you Oats and Birdie for getting the gummies for the girls.

And thank you girls, for showing me the meaning of mental strength, fitness and most importantly, team spirit. I'm truly very proud of you all. Almost wanted to cry, but no. (':

Oh yes, I also want to comment on the girls for being so thoughful of each other even though they were alr SOOOOOO freaking tired. They made sure Dora was safe and alwaysssss looked out for each other. HEARTS LAAAAA!! (:

Results:
1st - TP with All wins and 1 draw (with us)
2nd - SP with All wins and 1 lost (with TP)
3rd - NYP with All juniors and NO disguised senior.

HAHAHAHAH no offence, just trying to make it sound uniformed. THANKS. (: HAHAHAHA.

4th - NP with 0 zilch subs. (lost to NYP by 1 pt; one freaking pt. Guess we drew too many games)
BUT STILL, VERY HAPPY AND I LOST MY VOICE WITH NO REGRETS!
GO STARBURST! DRAWS A GAZILLION HEARTS for you all.


Heart,
A bai-ka and voiceless Mag (: