Law Society

Annual Soccer Shield 2006

Soccer Shield Champions 2006 – Law Society Selection

This year’s Annual Soccer Shield tournament was held at the Tanglin Football fields and a total of seven teams took part, in the following groups – Group A: Allen & Gledhill, Rajah & Tann, Clifford Chance Wong; Group B: Mergers & Acquisitions (defending champs), Legal Service, Law Society Selection, Drew & Napier LLC.

The group matches were played over two Sundays, on 9 and 16 July 2006, whilst the final knockout stages and related festivities took place on 23 July 2006. After a break of two years since the last Tournament in 2004, all the respective teams were excited and raring to cross swords again with one another.

Group Matches

Group A matches went according to form, as a strong Rajah & Tann (‘R&T’) team made light work of their group opponents. R&T had made key additions to their squad, with the experienced Hamidul Haq and Nanda Kumar signing up with several promising youngsters.

R&T started out with a comfortable, if narrow, 1-0 victory over last tournament’s finalists Allen & Gledhill (‘A&G’), who were clearly missing their top scorer from 2004, Kok Tsung Hao, who had joined the Mergers & Acquisitions (‘Mergers’) team on a free transfer.

R&T then dispatched their next opponents, Clifford Chance Wong (‘CCW’) by a score of 2-1, after getting a lucky break in the first half when the CCW keeper presented Clarence Lee with a tap-in goal. R&T’s winning performances came at a cost though, as their midfield lynchpin, Ho Hua Chyi, collected his second yellow card of the tournament, and was therefore suspended from their quarter-final match. As it turned out later, this was very costly indeed.

The final Group A match saw A&G succumbing to CCW (and the sweltering heat) by a score of 3-1, with the tournament’s eventual top scorer, Sudin Awang of CCW, bagging a brace.

The Group B matches turned out a few surprises. The defending champs, Mergers, started out tentatively against Legal Service, and although they kept possession well, fell behind to an Ivan Chua goal after a corner kick was not properly cleared. Mergers showed their championship credentials though, when they equalised shortly afterwards when Chong Boon stabbed home the rebound after a good shot from Murali. Despite Mergers having several chances to score after that, the game ended in a 1-1 draw. Legal Service would have been the happier of the two teams with the result.

While Mergers and Legal Service were playing out a stalemate, the Law Society Selection (‘LSS’) team was hammering Drew & Napier LLC (‘D&N’) with goals from Lee Terk Yang, Kenneth Leong, Mark Tan and Adrian Aw. Despite D&N’s valiant efforts, LSS’s quality and team work made the difference, and the game ended in a big 4-0 win for LSS.

The next game in Group B saw Mergers taking on the young upstarts from LSS. LSS went immediately on the attack and caused the Mergers’ defence a few problems. However, the Mergers defence settled down quickly and they took the lead when Tsung Hao scored after beating the off-side trap and slotting the ball under the LSS keeper. LSS did not back down, however, and equalised in the first half when Jay Lee lobbed the ball over Shih Yong into the net. The game eventually ended 1-1. Legal Service played D&N at the same time and won comfortably 2-0 with goals from their stalwarts, Choon Kiat and John Ng.

The final Group B games almost got called off due to torrential rain, but after the sun came up, LSS faced off with Legal Service first, with Mergers playing D&N in the final fixture. The game between LSS and Service would decide the Group winners (who would get an automatic bye into the semi-finals), but LSS’s youth and stamina made the crucial difference. LSS stomped all over the tiring Legal Service team, and triumphed with their second 4-0 win of the day. Clearly, the LSS team was establishing themselves as a firm favourite for the title.

On paper, the final group game was a foregone conclusion. Mergers were unlucky to have played out two draws when they were the better team, whilst D&N had suffered two heavy losses. Unfortunately, football has a way of turning the tables on favourites, and despite camping in the D&N half for most of the game, Mergers could not find a way to break down their opponents. They paid the price when D&N scored a goal against the run of play just a few minutes from the end, and they claimed a famous 1-0 win.

After all the drama from the group games, the seven teams finished in the following positions:

Group A                 P             W            D             L              F              A             Pts

1. R&T                    2              2              0              0              3              1              6

2. CCW                  2              1              0              1              4              3              3

3. A&G                   2              0              0              2              1              4              0

Group B                 P             W            D             L              F              A             Pts

1. LSS                    3              2              1              0              9              1              7

2. Legal Service  3              1              1              1              3              5              4

3. D&N                   3              1              0              2              1              6              3

4. Mergers            3              0              2              1              2              3              2

The above results meant that the quarter-finals were drawn as follows: QF1 LSS (automatic bye to semi-finals); QF2 Mergers vs R&T; QF3 Legal Service vs A&G; QF4 CCW vs D&N.

The winners of QF1 (ie LSS) would play the winners of QF4, whilst the winners of QF2 and QF3 would face off in the semi-finals. The losers of the quarter-finals would play in the Plate Competition, with the best loser going into the Plate Final, whilst the other two teams play each other in a semi-final. The Guest-of-Honour for the Cup Final was His Honourable Justice V K Rajah who kindly graced the occasion and presented the various prizes thereafter.

Knockout Stages

Unbeknownst to pre-Tournament favourites R&T, the Group B results had conspired to throw up the defending champs, Mergers, as their quarter-final opponents. Thus, two strong teams that did not expect to meet each other had to face off in a high stakes match, in which the winner would go through to a coveted semi-final place, whilst the loser would be consigned to the Plate competition.

This ‘clash-of-the-titans’ was keenly watched by the other teams gearing up for their own knockout games, and it did not disappoint. R&T started the game without their first choice midfielder, Hua Chyi (who was suspended), but went on the offensive straightaway. The Mergers defence, however, coped admirably with R&T’s attacks and snuffed out all signs of danger despite Nanda Kumar’s efforts. The Mergers midfield slowly took charge and although both sides created clear chances, the game ended in a 0-0 stalemate, which meant penalties had to be taken to settle the score.

Both teams scored with their first penalty kicks, but missed their second penalties. When R&T’s fourth kick came off the right post, however, Tsung Hao was handed the task of putting his team into the semis. He did not let his team mates down, and with a cleverly taken kick, sent the R&T keeper the wrong way, and his team into the semi-finals.

The next quarter-final was to be contested between Legal Service and A&G, but due to a lack of numbers, A&G was forced to concede the game. This meant that the defending champs, Mergers, would meet their nemesis, Legal Service, in the semi-finals for the second successive tournament.

The last quarter-final was then contested between D&N and CCW. It was a tightly contested match from the start and both teams fought hard and created chances on both ends. However, D&N had their opponents’ top scorer, Sudin, well shackled and they eventually ended up with a 2-0 win with goals from Jeremy Wang and Gerald Koh. Their prize – a semi-final meeting with the formidable LSS team.

Quarter-final 1:   

LSS

LSS (Received bye to semi-finals)

Quarter-final 2:

Mergers 0; R&T 0

(Mergers win 4-3 on penalties)

Quarter-final 3:   

Legal Service 3; A&G 0

(Legal Service walkover)

Quarter-final 4:    D&N 2; CCW 0

Plate Competition

The best loser from the quarter-finals turned out to be R&T, and they proceeded automatically to the Plate Final. A&G and CCW played off for the right to meet R&T, and CCW repeated their Group stage win over their rivals, but this time with a 2-1 score.

The Plate Final between R&T and CCW was a gripping affair. R&T started off the Final with their reserves getting a run out, but CCW quickly stamped their authority on the game and took a surprise lead in the first half. Sensing the game slipping away from them, R&T brought on their first choice players in the second half and eventually bagged an equaliser near the end of the game. The penalty shootout beckoned again for R&T. However, this time, their luck (and nerves) held, and they prevailed 5-4 in the shootout, thus winning the Plate trophy.

Plate Winners – Rajah & Tann

The outcome of both matches was as follows:

Plate playoff:

CCW 2; A&G 1

Plate final:

R&T 1; CCW 1

(R&T win 5-4 on penalties)

Cup Competition

The first Cup Semi-final had Mergers taking on Legal Service. These perennial rivals had met each other so often in the past and as expected, both teams were very familiar with the other’s game plan. The game became cagey and tight and the players found little space in which to operate. However, a moment of folly from the Legal Service keeper late in the second half gave Tsung Hao a half chance, which he accepted with aplomb, by lobbing the keeper from just outside the penalty box. One-zero and Mergers were through to the final shortly afterwards. They were now on course to retain their title from 2004.

As for the second Cup Semi-final, a young but inexperienced D&N team was no match for the well-rested LSS team, who was playing only their first game that weekend. Goals from Terk Yang, Sunil and Mark Tan gave their team a well crafted 3-0 win and some tidy and disciplined play from LSS ensured that D&N had no way back.

The stage was then set for a final pitting two of the strongest teams in the tournament – Mergers and LSS. These two teams had played out a 1-1 draw in their Group game, but the stakes were much higher now.

Cup Semi-Final 1:

Mergers 1; Legal Service 0

Cup Semi-Final 2:

LSS 3; D&N 0

Cup Champions – Law Society Selection

M & A Law Corporation Best Player – Sankar (Mergers)

The Cup Final match then took place, and the finalists, Mergers and LSS, took to the pitch under the blazing sun. With both teams looking to impose themselves early, several fouls were called and the referee was forced to keep a tight leash on the players. Both teams continued to go at each other, but the first half ended with a 0-0 draw.

The second half saw better chances being created by both teams, but still no goals were forthcoming. Ten minutes from the end, LSS’s Jay Lee got away again from the Mergers’ defence down the left channel, and slotted home calmly from 12 yards. This brought massive celebrations from the LSS team and their supporters, who were now within touching distance of their first ever Cup win.

However, it is said never to underestimate the heart of a champion, and Mergers came back strongly. Shortly after the kick off, a clearance from the LSS defence was headed back towards the LSS penalty box by Murali, and Tsung Hao pounced on the loose ball and slammed the ball home. The score stood at 1-1 and there were still a few minutes left. The game eventually ended in a draw and neither team scored in extra-time either. The Cup Final was therefore going to be decided on penalties for the first time.

Mergers went confidently into the shootout, as they had prevailed earlier in their quarter-final. LSS, however, was not to be denied. Although Terk Yang missed their first penalty, they coolly slotted home the rest of their kicks, and when Shih Yong skied his penalty over the bar, LSS won the Cup.

Cup Final (The Oval)

Mergers 1

LSS 1

(LSS win 3-1 on penalties)

This year’s Tournament turned up no less than three penalty shootouts, including both the Plate and Cup Finals, and for drama alone, it was incomparable. After the Cup Final, spectators and players alike enjoyed a buffet spread and His Honour Justice V K Rajah gave away prizes to all the winning teams.

His Honour also presented individual prizes to the Top Scorer of the Tournament, Sudin Bin Awang from CCW, as well as the M & A Law Corporation Best Player of the Tournament Award (‘M & A Award’) to S Sankar (Mergers).

Top Scorer – Sudin Awang (CCW)

The final standings for this year’s Annual Soccer Shield were as follows:

Cup

1. Law Society Selection

2. Mergers & Acquisitions

3. Legal Service

4. Drew & Napier LLC

Plate

1. Rajah & Tann

2. Clifford Chance Wong

3. Allen & Gledhill

Top Scorer

Sudin bin Awang, 4 goals (CCW)

M & A Law Corporation Best Player Award

S Sankar (Mergers)

His Honourable Justice V K Rajah with Law Society President, Philip Jeyaretnam, SC

On behalf of the organising committee, I would like to thank His Honour Justice V K Rajah and Mr Philip Jeyaretnam, SC for their attendance at the Tournament. I would also like to thank my colleague, Hui Choon Kuen, and Rahim from the Law Society for their invaluable assistance throughout the Tournament.

 Alvin Chang

Chairman, Organising Committee

Law Society Annual Soccer Shield 2006