Local rugby club Pattaya Panthers fell in the semi-finals of the Chiang Mai 10’s rugby festival, held between 21-22 November at the Prince Royal College School ground in Chiang Mai.
The much touted but rare tour saw Panthers winning four of their five games which put them on course to stake out the Cup, but they were thwarted by a younger, quicker and admirable outfit. Overall the positives greatly outweighed the negatives however bangs and bruises hurt more when geared for a win.
Pattaya Panthers line up for a team photo at the Chiang Mai 10’s rugby festival, held from November 21-22.
The weekend’s activity for the Panthers started on a hot Saturday at 11:00 am versus Chiang Mai University 2. Led by Captain AD, Panthers took the lead with the first try but the skipper also provided the Panther’s first drop ball and forward pass, exemplifying actions, not instructions. The team’s first game was showered with more Panther’s mistakes but with the rolling subs relatively organized (stalwart Damo), there was some structured play to compensate for the errors.
Surprise guest player, Marcelle, made it 12-0 with a try and conversion of his own. Rugby debutant, Wesley, nearly pulled off a sensational try with his first touch of a rugby ball in a game. Unfortunately, the referee had called a forward pass and pulled back the play for a scrum. But two more tries by AD and Miles Davis saw Panthers win comfortably 24-0
Game two was a much more organized affair with the sun drying off the blunder dampness. This resulted in a resounding 46-0 victory against IPE. The younger, smaller and less experienced IPE could not handle the onslaught of a focus Panthers team playing with a sense of purpose.
The Panthers throw the ball wide during one of the early qualifying matches.
Wesley got his first and only (unfortunately) try of the tournament by providing excellent support running and positioning himself for the lay-off. Spike, Miles Davis, AD, and Shaffa all contributed to an all-round team performance worthy of winners.
Phayao Rugby Club was the Panthers third opponent of the day. Phayao ensured that the Pattaya team was grounded, with some quick organized play disrupting the defence and leading to a quick try.
Miles Davis trumpeted the Kiwi ruggedness, bursting back to the centre and pushing away the Phayao full back to score an impressive try. Not to be outdone, Phayao showed that physicality was not an issue, working the mauls and quick hands to regain the lead.
The second half brought a rejuvenated Panthers to the field, with Marcelle using his big frame to move through the centre for the equalizer. With continued assault the Panthers kept the tenacious Phayao in their own half and with the clock ticking down, continuous ball passing opened a small gap for Chris Mander to squeeze in a try on the left for a Panthers winning score.
Day two started where day one ended with another competitive game for the Panthers against Mae Fah Luang University (MFLU). Slow and controlled was the Panthers plan with simple passing of the ball around. However, MFLU were eager too and kept the Panthers caged in the midfield.
As with day one, AD got the scoreboard flipping with a yeoman try off a Panthers’ mini maul. With bodies taunted by the hard ground and hot sun, stealth was not part of the game plan. Slow and steady play worked well again to keep and move the ball in MFLU’s half. Scrum-half Chris gave Panthers a second try and conversion to cushion the lead. MFLU kept playing and scored a last-minute try to register a respectable 14-7 score line.
The semi-final pitted Pattaya Panthers against hometown heroes, Prince Royal College (PRC). A four-hour break did not help the Panthers momentum and PRC pounced early in the game, challenging everything thrown at them with dogged determination. Youthful vigour, quickness, discipline and awareness led to PRC reacting quicker in the maul and breakdowns to win the ball. A quick step and a dart through space led to PRC’s first try.
An organized Panthers tried to equalize the score but a forward pass (flat ref…) on the PRC 5m line arrested that play. In another wave of attack, the PRC centre used a chip and chase to overcome the defensive wall. It worked, with the Panthers forwards being outpaced.
The second half continued with Panthers laboring in the PRC half. Despite Miles Davis running for the gaps with support, PRC players were there in numbers. A loose ball on the PRC 10m line led to the third PRC try, even with a ‘wonderful and gallant’ 20m chase by the scribe. Youthful pace is an advantage. Panthers did show grit by scoring a last-play try off a scrum to end the match 19-7 down.
Losing left the Panthers visibly deflated. It is respectable to lose in a final, but the semi-final was against a very well organized, young and quick team that had the better game plan. Panthers did not get their prey his time but they increased their standing in the rugby jungle.
