CS Larrikins are the class act of the weekend
CS Larrikins, an invitational team including amongst their number former Wallaby hooker Jeremy Paul, former Italy No 8 Matt Phillips and several of the Arabian Gulf 7’s squad won the cup competition at the twentieth anniversary Manila Ten’s on Sunday evening.
The fifteen hundred or so in attendance at Nomads Sports Club were treated to an enthralling final in which the never-say-die attitude of the Singapore Barbarians kept them in the contest throughout.
Larrikins had had the far easier passage to the final with comfortable wins over New South Wales Crows in the quarter-final and then a romp against the young guns from Sydney, the Rats, in the semis.
Singapore in reaching their fifth consecutive cup final came through two tightly contested games with teams that would have not been out of place in the final themselves. Their quarter-final with the street wise New Zealand side, the Ligers could have gone either way, with the final score at 21-12 and if they thought that was hard work then the semi-final with the defending champions, the Black Watch was really demanding. The British Army lads, bound for Helmand Province, Afghanistan next week gave their all in a bid for back to back titles but were unable to halt the progression of the Baba’s who registered a 19-12 victory.
The final itself teetered on a knife edge from the first whistle to the last. The Barbarians are renowned for having the ability to raise their game and this they did managing to nullify an early Larrikins try to lead the game early in the second half at 10-5. Larrikins though, always appeared to have more in the tank and they did not press the panic button, patiently mounting attack after attack until they breached the Singapore defence to lead with a converted try and then again to move into a 17-10 lead.
When Hong Kong referee Tobi Lothian blew the final whistle the considerable Larrikins support rushed onto the field and the celebrations began. Founder of the Larrikins Michael Temperton was clearly thrilled, having seen his side promise but fail to deliver over the last few years.
Overall the standard of play in this year’s top flight has been superior to any of the previous tournaments. Hats off to both of the teams promoted from the Division 2 pools. Seoul Survivors, long-time participants surprised everyone including themselves with their elevation to the cup competition and they did not disgrace themselves, only going down 21-0 to the powerful Black Watch. Local side the Alabang Eagles ran Sydney Rats close in their quarter-final and will perhaps consider themselves unlucky to have been pipped 17-14 in an abrasive tie.
In the plate competition hosts Nomads suffered a second half meltdown after a great individual effort from Nick Wong had given them a 10-5 lead against Hong Kong Football Club Scorpions, who eventually triumphed 33-10.The Pot Bellied Pigs and the Stokes Classics both had comfortable wins, but Taipei Baboons had to battle hard to stay in the competition edging Tokyo Gaijin 5-0.
The semi-finals saw Taipei account for the challenge of Stoke Classics with a 24-12 victory and the Pot Bellied Pigs who for once were distinctly lacking in any players of considerable girth put Scorpions to the sword with a 41-7 win.
The final, in the balance throughout, saw the Pigs prevail despite being a player short for some of the second period, having had one of their number sin-binned. The final score stood at 19-14.
In the third tier competition, the bowl, the Flying Elvises made it a happy return to the Manila Tens overcoming an early 10-0 deficit in the final to run away as 38-10 winners over the Wagga Wagga Warratahs. Local sides M.A.A.P. and Cebu City Dragons had fallen at the first hurdle in the quarter-finals and Nomads second team, the Carabaos also came up short losing their semi-final to Wagga Wagga 22-7.
Alabang Ibons gave the Manila rugby faithful something to cheer when they lifted the shield trophy. A team combining youth and experience looked dangerous all day, first vanquishing the Low Flying Dragons and then completely subduing the Scorpions second team with a 41-7 win.
Their final opponents were to be the Brisbane Vulgarians who reputedly had several first-time rugby players on the field at one time or another during the competition. They took out Valley in the quarter-finals and then routed Baretto Blues 43-0 in the semis.
With old heads Matt Cullen and Tom Egerton calling the shots and a great all-round team effort the Ibons were able to overcome the visitors from Australia, the final score 17-5.
The Manila Tens from humble beginnings in 1989 has developed into one of the regions premier tournaments. It is indicative of the nature of the game of rugby that players of all standards, abilities, shapes and sizes, young and old can compete at one tournament and all have their moments of glory at whatever level. In these times of big money sport the Manila Tens harks back to an era where the average club player can rub shoulders with those who have played the sport at the very highest level. That’s what makes it very, very special.
Images Courtesy: Gaia Leigh Lising
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