SHOAW retains rugby title three years in a row

SMK Shoaw receiving the challenge trophy from Lo (fifth left) while Julius (third right), Zulkarainhisham (second right) and others look on.

KUCHING: SMK Agama Sheikh Haji Othman Abdul Wahab (Shoaw) completed a hat-trick of wins in the Kuching Festival Rugby Carnival when they defeated SMK Tebedu 47-12 in the Cup final at Song Kheng Hai Ground last Saturday.

This is the third consecutive year that the Kuching school rugby powerhouse has won the title.

Shoaw head coach Zulkarainhisham Sarbini was pleased with the performance of his boys who had helped to maintain the school’s standard in the annual competition organised jointly by Kuching Football Rugby Club (KRFC) and the Kuching City South Council (MBKS).

“Congratulations to the boys for playing so well throughout this U16 tournament and winning the title for the third year running,” he said after the prize presentation.

“I believe they have maintained their good performance in the rugby sevens. They still have the edge over the other schools and we hope to keep it up.

“However, I do see that other teams are coming up and I must congratulate teacher Rudy and his boys for getting to the final,” he said.

Zulkarainhisham felt that it was still a good tournament although seeded sides Kolej DPAH Abdillah and MRSM Kuching did not had “full” teams.

He was hoping that more matches like the quarterfinals and semi-finals could be played so that the players could gain more playing experience.

The Plate was won by SMK Asajaya who beat MRSM A 24-14 and MRSM B were the first runners-up in the Shield after losing 10-19 to Sakura.

Other winners were Kolej DPAH Abdillah who beat SMK Wira Penrissen 10-5 in the Bowl final, SMK Sungai Maong who blanked SMK Muara Tuang A 12-0 in the Spoon final and SMK Muara Tuang B who thumped SMK Hajah Laila Taib 21-0 in the Saucer final.

Twelve teams from 10 schools in Kuching and Samarahan took part in the one-day tournament aimed at promoting rugby among schools in Kuching and Samarahan.

Meanwhile, Batu Kitang state assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang said rugby was an excellent sport for youths and that he fully encourage and support healthy activities advocated by KRFC.

“The annual Kuching Festival Rugby Carnival is a good start for students who are interested in developing their skills and interest in rugby.

“Rugby is considered an elite sport well recognised worldwide and widely played in schools and universities in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand,” he noted.

The chairman of the Padawan Municipal Council added that rugby will help to instill a high level of discipline as well as testing the players mentally and physically.

Also present were organising chairman councillor Timothy Julius, organising committee coordinator Abdul Rahman Ibrahim and KRFC president Ahmad Yusuf Shah. -TheBorneoPost