After 4 months of exactly a hundred matches played, we are finally at the knockout stages of the National Men’s Championship 17/18. On the 24th of March 2018, at 5pm, top of the league Wanderers RFC 1st will be battling it out with 4th place Bedok Kings RFC 2nd. While at 7pm, the 2nd semi-final will be played out between 2nd place Bucks RFC 2nd and 3rd place SCC Tankards.
This has got to be one of the tightest top 4 Championship race in history. All 4 teams are level on the number of wins/losses with only bonus points separating the spots they occupy in the league. Each team stands on 8 wins and 2 losses.
Wanderers RFC’s Gents side were the form leaders early in the season and looked on track to dominant the competition until a narrow loss against Bedok Kings came their way. They face a determined Bedok side who have shown some sparks in parts this season. The Gents will depend on their up and coming backline to outrun the Kings, and hopefully make it 2 out of 2 finals of the Wanderers Club.
The SCC’s Tankards side are the most successful team in the Championship, winning 10 out of the last 12 titles on offer. Finishing third and not winning the league has already stirred the emotions of a side who want to win each week. They almost came back against their semi-final opponents Bucks the last time they met on the Padang with a spirited 2nd half performance. It was too little too late then, and Bucks will be looking at some young talent in their backs feeding off a grizzled forward pack to overcome a Tankards side hungry to prove a point.
Will history repeat itself for the 17/18 National Men’s Championship semi-finals? Both matches will be too close to call, but one thing is certain, that is both games will be intense, exciting, nerve-wrecking, edge of the seat stuff!
Entry is free, with great weather expected with a late evening kick off. Food and refreshments will be sold on site, so bring along your mates, family and catch the best of Singapore grassroots rugby.
