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The Seoul Survivors produced another winning effort this weekend at the Ansan 15s tournament to beat out Seoul Buk Technical High School Old Boys and SNU Affiliated High Schools Old Boys for the honours and maintain an unbeaten record this year in Seoul. The team took part in a hitherto unheard of 15s tournament format against the two Seoul-based amateur heavyweights. Two games at 40 minutes each offered a regular 15s game worth of rugby against typically fast, fit and determined Korean opposition.
Despite, sending a selection squad of regular A team players and Killer Bs, the Survivors managed to eke out a first up victory over Seoul Buk, 5-0. The Survivors’ sole score coming through the hands of Steve ‘Big Tiger’ Ko. The game was characterised by a rash of handling errors by the Survivors under pressure from wild ruck engagements and very loose interpretations of the breakdown laws. Unable to settle into the normal rhythm, the Survivors began to mimic the frenzied play of the high School Old Boys team and were relieved to come away with the win.
Rattled by a closer than anticipated match against Korean opponents, the Survivors rallied for a much improved effort against higher quality opposition. Settling into the typical Survivors patterns and organisation, the squad managed to leap out to a large lead before the SNU launched a courageous fightback. Nerves were frayed when Japanese flyer Hikaru Tamoto knocked on over the line while the game was still in the balance but that couldn’t stop the Survivors from running out eventual 25-17 winners in Ansan.
Our friends, the Jeonnam Aliens, also made the considerable trip up to Ansan to participate in the second pool. Buoyed by half a dozen Survivor and Gumi ring-ins, the Aliens played hard, fast rugby and look to be in a good stage of their development. They were unable to get a win though and are still learning the intricacies of playing against Korean opposition under the local refereeing standards. Hats off to their dedication nonetheless.
Thanks must go to all the players and supporters that were willing to sacrifice a Saturday night to play a Sunday tournament, especially Gumi Barbarian Victor Yang and stalwart supporter Nick Goodman, who apparently socialising to the wee hours of the morning and still managed to do the business come kick off. |
