The Knights Rugby Football Club celebrating after winning the Brunei Rugby Football Union (BRFU) Darussalam Cup by defeating the Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) Sharks 17-14 at the Sungai Kebun Sports Complex yesterday. BT/Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh
The Knights Rugby Football Club were crowned champions of the Brunei Rugby Football Union (BRFU) Darussalam Cup after defeating Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) Sharks in a thrilling final at the Sungai Kebun Sports Complex yesterday.
The champions were trailing 15-14 with only a minute left to play, but Lim Shen Quan would emerge as the hero for the club after scoring a penalty to end the game 17-14. Lim was later named the best player of the tournament and the 26-year-old was quick to credit his teammates for the victory against the Dr Hj Kamaruddin Cup (BRFU Premiership) champions.
He also praised Ben Bourne for his impact on the game after the forward came on in the second half to score two tries. "It was all a team effort," said Lim in an interview with The Brunei Times after the match.
"I was very nervous but I just focused on getting the ball in between the sticks (for the penalty) and I did it. When Ben came in, we were all motivated to win. He was the founder of the club and this means a lot to him," he added.
Knights manager Syaihan Hj Abu Bakar echoed Lim's sentiment. "Ben lifted the spirits of the players when he came in and luckily we managed to turn things around," he said.
"The Sharks are not an easy team to beat, but Alhamdulillah, we managed to come back in the second half and win the game," he added. The Sharks went ahead 5-0 in first half courtesy of Safwan Md Ali, but Bourne would cancel the lead in the 41st minute and captain Dinnie Hj Abu Bakar would score the conversion to put the Knights ahead 7-5.
The Sharks replied when Md Aliuddin Timbang scored a penalty in the 52nd minute to put his team ahead 8-7. Md Aliuddin converted another kick after his older brother, Md Azahar, scored a try five minutes later as the Sharks increased their lead to 15-7.
The Knights refused to give up and Bourne once again delivered by scoring another try. Quan scored the conversion and the Knights were just one point behind the Sharks.
The Knights were then awarded a penalty in the final minute of the game, and Lim stepped up to score the winner. "We are not winning just today, but we are winning throughout this campaign and I am very proud of you all," Bourne said to his teammates after the win.
The Knights beat the Miri Rhinos 28-20 in their semi-finals while the Sharks took down the Belait Pythons 14-7 to progress into the championship decider.
Presenting the prizes to the winners yesterday were the Acting Assistant Director of the Department of Co-Curricular Education under the Ministry of Education, Roslin Suhaili, as well as BRFU president Dr Hj Kamaruddin Dato Hj Talib.
