Victorious at Manila 10's

Cebu Victorious in Manila Rugby Tourney

The 2008 AMEC Manila 10’s Rugby Tournament was contested on April 5 and 6, 2008 in Merville Subdivision, Parañaque City. In sweltering conditions, 29 teams from 12 countries, including Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, UAE, Guam, Japan, Taipei, vied for glory across four divisions.
After being knocked out in the semi-finals last year, this year the Cebu Dragons were able to emerge victorious in the Shield competition after 2 days of intense rugby.

The Dragons started slow with losses on the opening day to an experienced Singapore Barbarians outfit, local rivals and hosts, the Nomads Carabaos, and a strong Japanese team in Tokyo Gaijin. Despite an improved scrum led by Jethro Estimo, Francis Berizo and Marc Redija, the Dragons could not compete with the sheer physicality of their more experienced rivals and ended the round robin matches scoreless, after having conceded five tries to the opposition.

The results of the first round meant that Cebu was relegated to the shield competition finals for Sunday’s round of knockout matches. Knowing that any lapse in concentration would mean returning to Cebu empty handed, the Cebu team rallied behind two tries from fly-half Kim Fardy and one from speedster Marlou Luceño and led the Manila Hapons 19 – 0 at half time in the first semi-final. The second stanza was a more closely fought affair, with the Hapons team camping in the Cebu half of the field and exerting sustained pressure on the try line. The Hapons finally broke through the determined Dragon’s defense to score their first and only try of the match. Final score, Cebu 19, Hapons 7.

The win against the Hapons meant that Cebu would be pitted against the much favored, much larger and more experienced Arabian Potbellied Pigs. A renowned touring team and hosts of the Fat Boy 10’s Tournament held annually at Clark Airbase. The match was a seesaw battle between two very different teams. The Pigs using their bulk to try to break through the line, and Cebu relying on well-worked set plays to try to breach the opponent’s defense. A try to Kim Fardy in the first half was matched by the Pigs and scores were tied 5 – 5 at half time. In the second half, a number of mistakes cost the Dragons dearly and they found themselves trailing 10 – 5 with less than a minute to play. With time running down and 80 meters between the Dragons and their try line, Adrian Cosido secured an important lineout ball and gave the Cebu boys one final shot. With the opposition defender over committing to a tackle, captain Noel Flowers was able to pass the ball to Fardy who found a hole in the tough Pig’s defense. The Potbelly’s defense gave chase and was able to tackle him just short of the try line. But, with the buzzer sounding in the background and with two defenders hanging off him, Fardy was able to pass the ball back to Flowers who scored right beside the posts to tie the match at 10 points apiece. With no time left in the game, Cebu’s fate lay with the boot of Jerry Branzuela, whose successful kick at goal clinched the championship for the boys from the south.

“It was a great result for Cebu rugby and Philippine rugby all round.” Said Dave Smith, President of the Cebu City Rugby Football Club. “In just our third year as a club, to win an event as prestigious as the Manila 10’s means that we are doing something right, and the boys are on the right track. I can’t express how ecstatic I am with this result.”

The Dragons are taking a weeks rest after the victory, before resuming training for an upcoming match against a U.S. Military team based in Zamboanga. After the form exhibited at the Manila 10’s and recently concluded Alabang 10’s, there is a good chance that a number of the Cebu players will be called upon for international duty in July for the ARFU test matches against Guam and Brunei to be played in Guam.

In the other three division finals, the Alabang Eagles were narrowly defeated by the HKFC Scorpions in the Bowl, while hosts the Manila Nomads were convincing in their victory over the Taipei Giants in the Plate final. The Cup final saw the three-time winners; the Singapore Barbarians against the crowd favorite Black Watch team from Papua New Guinea. In a thrilling encounter, which featured some bone-crunching tackles and dazzling passing sequences, the Black Watch were able to emerge as champions much to the delight of the spectators.

For more information on how to become a part of the sport they play in heaven, e-mail the club at j_branzuela.prfu@yahoo.com or text Jerry Branzuela on 0922 714 4307.