A UBD Sharks player (2nd R) in action against the Bandar Blacks during the Brunei Rugby Football Union (BRFU) Premiership at the UBD Field yesterday. BT/Yee Chun Leong
The Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) Sharks opened their Brunei Rugby Football Union (BRFU) Premiership with a message to other teams.
The Sharks were at another level as they demolished the Bandar Blacks 67-0 yesterday at the UBD Field.
Sharks managed 11 tries in the matchup with Md Assanuddin Timbang getting on the scoresheet three times.
His brother Md Aliuddin managed two tries and a conversion while Daniel William O'Brien made five conversions in the lopsided victory.
Others that managed tries in the game were Muhd Arif Hashim, Hj Mohd Azmiee Hj Mohd Sunnylai, Md Azahar Timbang, Hj Muhammad Firdaus Hj Razali, Ron Junior Philip and Yusuf Adam Flynn.
Sharks coach Mogamat Shafeek Kamalie never expected a lopsided match and is happy with the triumph.
"We never come into a game expecting the scoreline. I'm happy with the win especially that it is only the first game," said Shafeek in an interview with The Brunei Times after the win.
"However, there are still a lot of areas to look at. The boys were looking to execute the game plan but were inconsistent at times," he added.
"There is still plenty of work to be done and hopefully we will be able to play even better in the next match," continued Shafeek.
The rout started in the second minute with Md Aliuddin converting a try before Danial scored his first points in the ensuing conversion.
Md Azahar Timbang added to the scoreline just seven minutes later before the third tried was scored by Md Assanuddin in the 15th minute.
Md Aliuddin scored the conversion then to make it 19-0 and it was obvious where the match was heading.
The Blacks were toothless in at tack and were pushed back to their own half for most of the opening half.
Sharks, who are the Darussalam Cup winners, poured on the attack and held a 45-0 cushion at halftime.
The second half started just like the opening with Md Aliuddin scoring a try five minutes in and they were never really threatened as they cruised to victory.
The BRFU Premiership kicked off on Sunday with the Belait Pythons crushing defending league champions Miri Rhinos 26-5 on Saturday in Kuala Belait.
It was the first game back for the Pythons, who are three time league champions and four-time Darussalam Cup winners, having pulled out of the competition last year.
