Closing a Victorious Year:

RP Women's Touch Brings Back a Silver

On 22 November 2006, Republic Polytechnic Women’s Touch Rugby team had their first match with Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP). As they arrived with heavy nervous hearts, this was it, the moment and day they have all trained their hearts out for; POL-ITE. Even though it was home ground to NYP, the team still kept composure and did not allow nervousness get the better of them.

Putting up a fantastic defense by shifting and shutting down, they managed to keep a clean score sheet. The RP Touch Rugby Girls wouldn’t have achieved it without communication as a team. Congratulations to the Captain, Annabel Bernadette Woo Xue Ni (2nd year, DBMS/SAS), who scored a hat trick.  Team RP held their heads high as they walked off the pitch with a 7-0 victory over the home team.

During the second week of the POL-ITE games the team suffered one loss to Temasek Polytechnic (0–4) and 2 consecutive victories to Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) and ITE (4–0 and 6–0 respectively). Once again, a clean score sheet against NP and ITE.

With the support of their advisor, Ms Wendy Chia, and their coach, Ms Boo Hui Min, they were determined to seal the POL-ITE games with honour and victory on their last match against Singapore Polytechnic (SP).

On the last day of the POL-ITE games, Republic Polytechnic met Singapore Polytechnic’s team in an energetic and nail- biting match. This match determined them either the silver or bronze. With a strong will to hold the silver in their hands, the team managed to sooth the pressure that had weighed down on their backs.

In the first few minutes, Vice-captain, Eunice Ng Yee Yong (2^nd Year, DNM/STA) scored the first try but soon that short celebration was smashed when SP tried the equalizer. That gave SP a huge leap of hope in claiming the silver. Still they managed to turn the tables around and keeping their composure together, the team fought back hard and SP could not penetrate through their defense line.

Winning the team’s forth glorifying victory, the RP Touch Rugby Girls clinched the silver in POL-ITE 2006. The team, led by Captain, Annabel Bernadette Woo Xue Ni (2^nd Year, DBMS/SAS), sailed them through 4 amazing victories, defeating NYP (7-0), NP (4-0), ITE (6-0) and SP (7-3). She was indeed a true pillar of the team, filling the team with never ending encouragements, instilling positive mind sets at the darkest and nerve-wracking moments.

Words by Annabel Bernadette Woo Xue Ni & Narene Yong (both 2^nd Year, DBMS/SAS)