Captain Lim Shen Quan kicking
during a BRFU game earlier
this year. Picture: BT/Syarif
Rasani
The National rugby team finally notched a win on the international stage this year.
Brunei defeated Sarawak 44-24 to seal third place in the Inaugural Sabah Governor's Cup Invitational Rugby 15s yesterday.
The three-day tournament saw Brunei take on the Sabah Eagles Rugby Club on Friday where they lost 95-6 at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
National captain for Brunei Lim Shen Quan was pleased with their win.
"We have been patient, working hard as ever, training six days a week during Ramadhan and Hari Raya," said Lim.
"It's the first win of the year and we got to play a competitive game against (Sarawak's) locals.
"Our game plan worked, most of all our tries came from the backs with the combination of play between the backs and forwards," he said.
"The combination of national rugby coach Ben Bourne taking the forwards and coach David Whaanga taking the backs was magical," he added.
"We appreciate the facilities provided by coach Lim Chee Wee and Bourne.
"We also need to thank Whaanga who came all the way to Sabah during the weekend to add some spice to our game," he said.
Forwards captain Ali Abdul Aziz Dato Seri Pahlawan Brigadier General (Rtd) Hj Jofri told The Brunei Times, "It was an awesome game and everyone played their hearts out."
"Our kicking game and rush defence put pressure on Sarawak," he said.
"It was a territory game and we were always in their half," Ali added.
The national team have gone through many tough battles since their last win on June 26, 2012, where they defeated host nation Cambodia during the HSBC Asian 5 Nations (A5N).
Following that win, they were defeated 70-7 by Laos in their second and final match of the tournament.
The national team then took part in this year's edition of the A5N that was also held in Cambodia.
Brunei fell to Cambodia 38-0 on July 5 and 28-0 on July 7 at the RCAF Old Stadium in Phnom Penh.
Next on the list for Bourne is the ARFU (Asian Rugby Football Union) Asia Junior 7's Under-20 Tournament.
The competition that was set to take place from June 22-23 was moved to September 13-14.
Tournament organisers felt that it was the best choice to push back the dates due to the disruption from the haze earlier this year.
