World First Premiership and World First Challenge Cup: Week 4 Previews & Fixtures

Photo Credit:Yin Tong

As the World First Premiership and Challenge Cup headed towards the Lunar New Year Break, Wanderers RFC were on top of the table in both competitions, with the 1^st team and the 2^nd XV both leading the field after 3 weeks of competition. 

Wanderers were impressive on Week 3, winning both crucial games against the SCC at the Padang.
The World First Challenge cup match between the SCC Tankards and the Wanderers 2^nd XV  started with a bang with the Wanderers as they racked up a 18 points lead going into the break. The Tankards were looking very ordinary at home and it was with some key injections from off the bench that got them within striking distance as the game wore on. It was not to be though and Wanderers go into week 4 top of the table and looking strong. Tankards have a week 4 game against Oldham at the Padang, a rematch of sorts of the 2015 grand finals. Tankards will have some reinforcements back, but expect a strong showing from Blandon Tan again in the centres. Wanderers 1^st XV were strong from the start, and it was their play out wide that’s stretched the SCC defence. Despite the leadership of Casey Mee at the back for the SCC, simple mistakes led to scores that frustrated the men in gold and black. Wanderers halfback Damien Hoo continues to impress this season and it was his leadership of the pack that led to the 31 – 18 win over the SCC.

Photo Credit: Yin Tong

Wanderers will need to be ready this week though as they play Bedok who are coming off a win over the World First Lions. Bedok were sluggish in the first half as the Lions came out firing and were tied at the half. With new combinations in both the forwards and the backs, head coach Inoke Afeaki managed to mould a team that was very competitive but in the end succumbed to the power and game experience of Jamil and Farhan who continue to impress for Bedok. This World First Premiership game will be an interesting one to watch for sure.

Photo Credit: SGH Photography

 SCC will want to get their season back on track with a strong showing against Saints this weekend in the World First Premiership. Saints RFC were playing in the first match of the round which was livestreamed, and they looked good in their first 10mins of play against Bucks in week 3. It was a stellar play from Bucks Captain Charlie Lambert at the 15mins mark that sparked Bucks, with a clever chip and gather leading to a score. In the end the Bucks side fed off poor decisions to come out 41 – 8 victors. Saints will need to really close ranks and depend on their backs to be competitive against SCC. Bucks will face the World First Lions in their successive match of the round on Friday night, and it will be seen how they perform after an extended break. The Lions will be an unknown quantity as always, and with Charlie Lambert in fine form for Bucks, expect an entertaining game to round off the Lunar New Year week festivities.

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World First Challenge Cup

GAULOIS                 v    WANDERERS 2XV       TURF CITY B    1.30PM
WANDERERS 3XV v   BEDOK KINGS 2XV      TURF CITY B    3PM
SCC LIONS              v   BUCKS 2XV                    PADANG            1PM
SCC TANKARDS    v   OLDHAM                         PADANG            3PM


SRU National Women’s League
NTU                        v      BLACKS                 TURF CITY A      2PM
SKYLLAS              v      BUCKS                  TURF CITY A      3.45PM

Women’s Development League 
BLACKS 1              v      NTU/NUS               TURF CITY A     1.30PM
SKYLLAS 1             v     SKYLLAS 2           TURF CITY A     3.15PM