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Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei's 21-10 win over Cambodia will provide some solace, however there is now no possibility of them topping this regional HSBC Asian Five-Nation rugby series in Laos, according to a press release from Brunei Rugby Football Union yesterday.
Cambodia will also need to improve dramatically from Thursday's performance and register at least a 16-point margin of victory over hosts Laos to prevent them coming out on top.
The Brunei-Cambodia game at the Savannakhet National Stadium in Laos was a real slow starter and the most noteworthy occurrence in the first half hour was the issuance of four yellow cards by Thai referee Thawatchai Samwang.
For one four-minute period the twelve men of Cambodia faced 14 from Brunei. Despite all the extra space both side was able to put together a passage of play capable of breaching the opposition defence and the game crawled towards
half-time locked at 0-0.
That's not to say that good honest endeavour was lacking; it was not, however both sides will rue the amount of ball lost at the tackle, ruck and maul and the ball that was recycled was painfully slow.
Just on the stroke of half-time with both sides back at full strength the deadlock was broken. Laboured passing in the Cambodian backline was pounced upon by Brunei fullback Petrus Tuan on his own 22-metre line and he raced the full length of the field to score under the posts.
This was duly converted by livewire, diminutive scrum-half Richard Chu and Brunei took a 7-0 lead into the break.
Only three minutes into the second period, Cambodia responded when debutant cap Rotha Nheb, displaying a terrific turn of pace sprinted down the left wing to score out wide.
The conversion was unsuccessful and the score stood at 7-5 in favour of Brunei. Brunei's heavier pack now began to exert its dominance especially at the scrums.
However quick ball from the nicks was still in short supply which limited the scoring opportunities. Prop, Johannes Hickey was particularly to the fore in driving the Brunei eight up the middle with several strong carries into the heart of the Cambodia defence.
Again the game seemed to have reached a scoring stalemate when with 12 minutes to go. Brunei was awarded a penalty 25 metres out.
Hickey and replacement prop Rosmi Janadie took the ball up and although again the recycle was slow, the resulting ball fed to captain Faez Anuar coming from open to blind was well timed and he forced his way through to score.
Tuan converted and Brunei now lead 14-5. The Brunei pack were now totally in control at the scrums and the effort required by the Cambodian pack to not be completely overrun was clearly taking its toll.
Second row pairing Robert Baker and Ralph McMillan were tireless in the loose and ran themselves almost to a standstill. However lack of bulk in the rest of their forwards was definitely a deciding factor in the outcome of this game.
Cambodia though were not yet willing to surrender and weak defence by Brunei under the high ball led to a transgression 10 metres out. The resulting quick tap penalty allowed the ball to be spun out to the left wing where Samedi Chan touched down to bring Cambodia within reach again at 14-10.
A problem for the Cambodian coaching staff that will have to be corrected prior to Saturday's game with Laos was the lack of snap in the passing of the backline.
Time and again centre Francois Bleriot had to deal with all manner of ball which put him under constant pressure and as a unit their inability to get the ball away from the contact area quickly proved to be their undoing.
This was typified by a plenitude of lob passes throughout the three quarters which resulted in several intercepts by Brunei.
Twice in the last five minutes such intercepts occurred, firstly the Brunei No 8 galloped away only for one of the support players to knock-on and then as Cambodia attempted to keep the ball alive at the death Shafiee Matali swooped on a poor pass to charge under the posts.
The resulting conversion being successful and the final whistle blown, the score stood at 21-10. Brunei will return home knowing three things: One, they arc now in the correct level of company at this stage of their nation's rugby development.
They have recovered from last year's heavy defeats by Guam and the Philippines and are now able to move forward. Two, they have some great individual talent.
Scrum-half Richard Chu could certainly benefit from a weight gain programme but he has many of the attributes of a quality scrum-half. Captain Faez Anuar is an all-action flanker and leads from the front and the entire front row are willing battlers if not fit enough to play higher grade rugby at this stage.
Thirdly, they need to play more rugby at a competitive level. The match between Brunei and home team, Laos was abandoned due to the floodlight problem at the 461' minute. The score at that time was 28-8 favouring the home side. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin
Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei's 21-10 win over Cambodia will provide some solace, however there is now no possibility of them topping this regional HSBC Asian Five-Nation rugby series in Laos, according to a press release from Brunei Rugby Football Union yesterday.
Cambodia will also need to improve dramatically from Thursday's performance and register at least a 16-point margin of victory over hosts Laos to prevent them coming out on top.
The Brunei-Cambodia game at the Savannakhet National Stadium in Laos was a real slow starter and the most noteworthy occurrence in the first half hour was the issuance of four yellow cards by Thai referee Thawatchai Samwang.
For one four-minute period the twelve men of Cambodia faced 14 from Brunei. Despite all the extra space both side was able to put together a passage of play capable of breaching the opposition defence and the game crawled towards
half-time locked at 0-0.
That's not to say that good honest endeavour was lacking; it was not, however both sides will rue the amount of ball lost at the tackle, ruck and maul and the ball that was recycled was painfully slow.
Just on the stroke of half-time with both sides back at full strength the deadlock was broken. Laboured passing in the Cambodian backline was pounced upon by Brunei fullback Petrus Tuan on his own 22-metre line and he raced the full length of the field to score under the posts.
This was duly converted by livewire, diminutive scrum-half Richard Chu and Brunei took a 7-0 lead into the break.
Only three minutes into the second period, Cambodia responded when debutant cap Rotha Nheb, displaying a terrific turn of pace sprinted down the left wing to score out wide.
The conversion was unsuccessful and the score stood at 7-5 in favour of Brunei. Brunei's heavier pack now began to exert its dominance especially at the scrums.
However quick ball from the nicks was still in short supply which limited the scoring opportunities. Prop, Johannes Hickey was particularly to the fore in driving the Brunei eight up the middle with several strong carries into the heart of the Cambodia defence.
Again the game seemed to have reached a scoring stalemate when with 12 minutes to go. Brunei was awarded a penalty 25 metres out.
Hickey and replacement prop Rosmi Janadie took the ball up and although again the recycle was slow, the resulting ball fed to captain Faez Anuar coming from open to blind was well timed and he forced his way through to score.
Tuan converted and Brunei now lead 14-5. The Brunei pack were now totally in control at the scrums and the effort required by the Cambodian pack to not be completely overrun was clearly taking its toll.
Second row pairing Robert Baker and Ralph McMillan were tireless in the loose and ran themselves almost to a standstill. However lack of bulk in the rest of their forwards was definitely a deciding factor in the outcome of this game.
Cambodia though were not yet willing to surrender and weak defence by Brunei under the high ball led to a transgression 10 metres out. The resulting quick tap penalty allowed the ball to be spun out to the left wing where Samedi Chan touched down to bring Cambodia within reach again at 14-10.
A problem for the Cambodian coaching staff that will have to be corrected prior to Saturday's game with Laos was the lack of snap in the passing of the backline.
Time and again centre Francois Bleriot had to deal with all manner of ball which put him under constant pressure and as a unit their inability to get the ball away from the contact area quickly proved to be their undoing.
This was typified by a plenitude of lob passes throughout the three quarters which resulted in several intercepts by Brunei.
Twice in the last five minutes such intercepts occurred, firstly the Brunei No 8 galloped away only for one of the support players to knock-on and then as Cambodia attempted to keep the ball alive at the death Shafiee Matali swooped on a poor pass to charge under the posts.
The resulting conversion being successful and the final whistle blown, the score stood at 21-10. Brunei will return home knowing three things: One, they arc now in the correct level of company at this stage of their nation's rugby development.
They have recovered from last year's heavy defeats by Guam and the Philippines and are now able to move forward. Two, they have some great individual talent.
Scrum-half Richard Chu could certainly benefit from a weight gain programme but he has many of the attributes of a quality scrum-half. Captain Faez Anuar is an all-action flanker and leads from the front and the entire front row are willing battlers if not fit enough to play higher grade rugby at this stage.
Thirdly, they need to play more rugby at a competitive level. The match between Brunei and home team, Laos was abandoned due to the floodlight problem at the 461' minute. The score at that time was 28-8 favouring the home side. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin
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