PETALING JAYA – Hot and rainy conditions did not stop the Combined Old Boys Rugby Association (Cobra) 10s from returning to thrill the locals at Padang Astaka today.
After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the rugby competition marked its 50th edition this year, with the men’s Cup final showcasing an intense clash between Daveta from Fiji and Cobra.
Daveta Rugby entered the competition as favourites, having won the Singapore Cricket Club Sevens last week.
Their formidable track record includes three previous wins in 2012, 2017, and 2018.
Earlier in a group match, Daveta had defeated Cobra 28-7.
But Cobra turned the tables on Daveta this time, dominating the Cup final winning 19-0, meaning Cobra defended their title from when the tournament was last held in 2019.
Cobra coach Mike Rogers, from New Zealand, revealed strategic adjustments in the final, where he changed the pace and style to better suit his players.
“We wanted to slow the game down and play the game at our pace, focusing on our scrum and line-out.
“Most of the players who play on Cobra are 15s players and those who play on Daveta are Sevens players.
“We opted for a 15s style, knowing they want to play a Sevens style. The rain was probably a blessing for us as it played into our hands and allowed us to execute our game plan,” he said.
To commemorate its golden jubilee, Cobra decided to introduce a women’s competition alongside the men’s. Previously, the events had been held separately.
Four teams in total from Singapore and Malaysia took part, which saw the Cobra Venom triumph over fellow Malaysians Dingoes Rugby Club.
Venom captain Rozliana Mohd Ridwan expressed her joy at winning on home ground and advocated for future editions to feature combined men’s and women’s competitions.
“Having it together with the men’s competition will create a lively atmosphere for the tournament and, hopefully, attract more women’s teams, adding competition and excitement,” she said.
Earlier today, both teams took on each other in a group match, resulting in a tight contest with Venom winning it with a late conversion 7-5.
However, the final showcased Venom’s dominance, concluding with a 17-5 score in favour of the home team.
“I am grateful that we could win this year’s competition with it being Cobra’s golden jubilee.
“When we played each other earlier today we identified our mistakes and talked about it after the match ended.
“In our warmups before the final we made sure we didn’t repeat those errors and my teammates showed what they can do,” added Rozliana.
This year’s women’s competition also featured Wolves Rugby Club and Bedok Kings from Singapore. – November 12, 2023