Despite putting up a good fight, the Singapore Rugby Lions lost the match to hot favourites Japan, with a score of 15 – 45.

Japan eventually went on to trounce South Korea 80 – 9 on June 16 in Osaka to clinch the top position of the Asian 5 Nations. `

The annual competition for rugby teams saw the young Lions relegated even before the kick off, where the young Lions faced the Asian champions, Japan, head on at Yio Chu Kang Stadium on May 23.

Hooker Gasper Tan told UrbanWire that they went into the game with one goal that is “to give it our hundred percent and come out with the crowd clapping and cheering for you.”

The atmosphere was electrifying as the spectators cheered for their favourite team. Within the first 8 minutes, the powerhouse team of Japan quickly burst into action, breaking through Singapore’s defence as they scored their first goal. By halftime, Japan scored four more tries and was leading 26-3.

In the second half, Singapore’s Ryan Cumbers converted four more penalties, chipping away the lead that Japan had at the start of the game.

The Singapore team soon switched to a more defensive style of play, which caused the Japanese team to lose their patience. Japan captain Takashi Kikutani found himself sent to the sin bin for an aggressive counter-ruck, which the referee ruled as shoulder charging.

However, the aggressive Japanese team managed to break into the home team’s back line as the game drew to a close, scoring three more tries before the final whistle.

The home team couldn’t ask for a better execution of game plan as they aimed to disrupt and slow the whole game down from the get-go.

“Winning the game was never a realistic target,” said captain Ben Wheeler. “I’m sure they’re slightly frustrated because of the amount of ball that we had and we held onto it very well. They obviously wanted to play a very open and fast game and we frustrated them into the game that we played.”

As for the Lions’ future plans, a delighted assistant coach Harry Woods said, “We have to take what we’ve learnt from this level and go into the next tournament, build on our performance and get back up so we can get back into this division.”

The Asian 5 Nations series has three levels of elite competition with promotion and relegation opportunities for participating teams. The levels include the Top 5, 3 divisional tournaments and 3 regional tournaments. The last placed team in the Top 5 will be relegated to play in Division 1 and the top placed team in Division 1 will be promoted to play in the Top 5 the following year.

Singapore, the only fully amateur team in the Top 5, finished last in the 2009 Asian 5 Nations and will be replaced by the Arabian Gulf in the 2010 Top 5 as Singapore moves down to play in Division 1 next year.