The COBRA team was on tour last weekend at the Borneo 10s. The 6th edition of the tournament was held for the 1st time at Kota Kinabalu, the capital of the Land Below the Wind.
With a number of strategic players on the crock list returning from the SCC 7s, the COBRA team had recruited 3 players from Palmyra Rugby Club, Perth (Syed’s former club downunder) from the SCC 7s to strengthen the squad.
Day 1, 11 November
The groupings for the tournament could not be fixed until the night before the start of tournament. This was due to literally last minute withdrawals causing redraws to be made.
COBRA were one of the seeded teams. The others being Davetalevu (Fiji), Ponsonby (NZ) and hosts Borneo Eagles.
With 4 groups of 3, COBRA had Labuan RC and Sandakan Development Team as company.
Results
vs Labuan RC : Won 53 - 0
vs Sandakan Development Team : Won 41 - 0
Day 2, 12 November
1. Qtr Final Cup
NS Wanderers was the opponent. Seeing that they were the defending champions, COBRA had decided to field the strongest available side.
After 4s minutes into the game, it seemed that the plan had backfired. Moves were breaking down; there was no flow from when the forwards got the ball till the time when the finishing touches was needed to be done by the backs.
A good example was when Kini, having made a clean break, ran from the 40 meters only to fumble under the post, inches from the try line (this heinous crime was duly punished at the Kangaroo Court!).
He however redeemed himself with the opening try a minute later and this eventually calmed the team and they had started to play to expectations.
Final Score: Won 33 - 0
2. Semi Final Cup
The semifinals had shaped up as follows
Ponsonby vs Davetalevu
COBRA vs Borneo Eagles
With 9 foreign players powering the Eagles attack at most time in the match, COBRA could only manage to hold off the Eagle attacks for a good 3 minutes before conceding the first try. Sporadic defending had caused the score to balloon while our own attacks were easily smothered. There were occasional counter attacks that had the host team worried but it was too few in between. From one of these attacks we had scored a consolation try through Kini.
Final Score : Lost 38 - 5
Davetalevu had beaten Ponsonby 14 - 7 and had gone on to beat the Eagles by 24 - 19 at sudden death extra time.
I have to thank Tom and Wan Syaimi for helping out with the team. Tour Granddaddy, Uncle Rory for coming up with the song to perform during the tournament dinner (we should seriously consider this as an official presentation) and Nazar for arranging the transportation.
Team : Gabuk, Erwin, Vuni, Scotty (Palmyra), Tommy (Palmyra), Malan, Faiz, Kini, Names (Palmyra), Nik, Syed, Norli, Azzan, Black and Isoa.
Coaches : Boon (Did not travel with the team), Tom Watkinson and Wan Syaimi.
Manager : Raymond R.
COBRA player of the tournament : Kini Rasolosolo
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