The Brent Lions Rugby squad traveled to Bangkok to compete in a 10-a-side Rugby Tournament at the International School of Bangkok.  The Lions were able to enter two teams and took 22 players on the tour.

The first game for the Lions was against the International School of Bangkok who are the current IASIS champions in Rugby.  The Brent team came out ready to play and surprised the IASIS champions winning the game by 19 to 7.  Jeremy Fogle scored two tries and Zac Martin the Brent Captain, lead the forwards with a strong display in the lineouts, rucks and mauls.

The Brent team drew the “Eastern Asia University” Rugby team in a semi-final showdown.  This team consisted of 18-20 year old Thai players, who play an open expansive style of running Rugby.  After watching the round games, Coach Cullen reorganized the Brent game plan and instructed the team to starve the EAU team of possession by playing the game up the middle in the forwards.  The Lions implemented this tactic to perfection and the Brent forward pack continually drove the ball through the opposition.  Kyle Mar, Josh Bullock, Ronald Fong, Yamada “The Toad” Keisuke and Zac Martin controlled the ball and challenged the EUA players to play a tough physical game. It wasn’t until just before halftime that Jacob Wood sprinted up in defense and forced an opposition mistake, which allowed Sam Martin to score the opening try. Brent went to the halftime break with a 7 – 0 lead.

Again in the second half Brent played controlled aggressive rugby and this time it was the “TOAD” Yamada Keisuke who made an incisive tackle which allowed Zac Martin to swoop on the loose ball and score beside the posts.  The EAU side then started playing wide attacking rugby and in the space of two minutes had scored two tries.  The only difference in the game was that David Carman converted both the Brent tries while the EAU kicker missed both attempts at goal.  This meant that Brent would play in the final, after winning 14-10 against a well-drilled University team.

The final was a replay of the morning round game between Brent and the International School of Bangkok.  The ISB team and coaches were obviously disappointed by the defeat earlier in the day and came out to defend their honor on their home ground.  The Brent team struggled to gain ascendancy in the first half, but the Brent defense held firm with the score remaining 0-0 at halftime.

The Brent Lions realized they would have to lift an extra level to win the final and Coach Cullen explained that every Brent player would need to show true determination and character to win the second half.  ISB again came out firing and began to attack the Brent defense.  Both Sam Martin and Charles Jarvis made try- saving tackles to thwart ISB taking the lead.  With five minutes remaining the score still level at 0-0, David Carman received the ball and decided to run wide.  He beat three ISB defenders and was tackled as he placed the ball in corner, unfortunately the touch judge ruled that he had hit the corner flag before grounding the ball.

With 2 minutes remaining the Brent team found that true Lions courage and hit the ISB team with everything they had left in the tank.  The forward pack pounded the ball forward and the backs tackled any attempt that ISB made at running the ball.  In the last minute of the game Ronald Fong called for the ball and charged head long into the ISB defensive line, with a never say die attitude, he busted through the first two tackles and carried two ISB players over the line to score the winning try.

BRENT WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 5-0.

The whole Lions team then rallied in front of the ISB players and supporters and performed a very spirited and thankful “BRENT HAKA”.  Sam and Zac Martin lead the cheer and all the ISB players congratulated the Brent Lions for coming to ISB and winning the tournament.

Congratulations to the Brent lion’s varsity rugby team for a completing a winning rugby tour to Bangkok.

Coach Cullen