Monday, April 12, 2010
EXPERIENCE and fitness helped the Knights Rugby Club pick up their second win of the Brunei Rugby Football Union (BRFU) Rugby League when they beat the Bandar Blacks 78-0 yesterday.
Though it cemented their position as league leaders after two rounds of action, it was their first time taking to the pitch since last week's victory in the tournament opener was a walkover result when defending champions the Belait Pythons could not field enough players.
The Knights are bolstered this season by the arrival of four players with years of experience under their belt, and it showed.
Not only do they have two new flankers, New Zealander Stuart Smith and South African Julian Penstone, the Knights were also able to call on the services of scrum-half Toma Unoi and fly-half Kerry Williams to strengthen the team.
Hj Rozaimienizam Hj Jainal crossed the line at the Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) field for three tries while Ak Mohd Abdul Aziz Pg Hj Md Norsah and Unoi got a brace each under their name.
Abdul Hakim Musdi, captain Dinie Hj Abu Bakar, Pg Saiful Rizal Pg Hj Masshor and Smith each scored one try, with Williams who used to play for Hautapu in the Waikato Club Premiership in New Zealand converting nine out of the 11 tries.
League champions in the inaugural season in 2006, the Blacks were simply out of shape and out of practice yesterday.
Their numerous missed tackles and unorganised defence were their main downfalls, and their forwards were just no match for the Knights whose pace and passing earned them a 45-0 lead heading into the break.
After letting in a stingy 12 points over five games in their debut campaign last season, the Knights look on course to repeat that feat.
Enjoying possession and territory, the Knights' outclassed their opponents in every department with their ball handling and tackling ensuring the Blacks would finish the game without a point.
"We just played more structured rugby and looked after the ball better," said the Knights' playing coach Johannas 'Hansie' Hickey.
"We had good second phase balls and that gave the backs space to attack," added the 38-year-old coach, who used to play for the Glenora and Te Atatu league clubs in New Zealand.
After a 59-5 result against league newcomers UBD Sharks in the league's first round of matches last week, the Blacks might have been forgiven for their optimism heading into yesterday's clash against last season's runners-up for both the league trophy the Kamaruddin Cup and the Darussalam Cup.
"I felt we were always in it until they started scoring," said Blacks' manager Clifford Chin after the match. "It was a game of two halves we played bad in both halves. There is really nothing much to say."
In the second game, three tries by Cassidy Enggu helped defending champions Belait Pythons to a 53-0 romp over the Sharks.
Apart from Enggu who represented the country during last year's Asian Rugby Sevens Series Chiew Fah Nam, Habib Waliyuddin, Mohd Isa, Roy Agan Munan and Rudy Baja also got on the scoresheet.
National team fly-half Petrus Tuan converted six out of the eight tries.
This week's action pits the Knights against the Sharks, and a win for the league leaders will guarantee them a place in the semi-finals. The other game will see the Blacks go up against the Pythons.
The Brunei Times
