World Footy News

The Malaysian Warriors have broken the stranglehold the Hong Kong Dragons have had on the Manila Cup competition for the past four years by defeating the Singapore Wombats in the Grand Final. Played in searing heat the Warriors were too strong to win by 22 points, Warriors 7-5 (47) d. Wombats 4-1 (25). 

Played at the Nomad Sports Club, ‘headquarters’ of the Philippine AFL under clear blue skies and roasting sunshine the player’s skills were on show although the energy sapping heat kept the ‘interchange gate’ very busy. All the teams put in great efforts and despite a couple of blowouts the sizable crowd were witness to an exciting day’s footy with four matches decided by less than a goal. 

With the late withdrawal of the second local team, the Alabang Crows, a five-team round robin competition was contested with each team playing four matches, ten games in all (excluding the Grand Final). All the teams had squads of at least 15 players, which was fortunate considering the heat.  

Skillful ball movement by hand and by foot and fast running displayed early on by the Singapore Wombats and Malaysian Warriors signaled that these were the teams to beat. The Philippine Eagles had wins over the Hong Kong Dragons and finalists Singapore Wombats but lost to the Warriors and Jakarta Bintangs by 3pts and 1 point respectively, missing the final on percentage.    

Hong Kong Dragons and Singapore Wombats also had win-loss ratio of 2-2 with the Wombats superior percentage placing them into the final. The Warriors only loss was ironically against their previous Manila Cup nemesis, the Hong Kong Dragons. Tournament ‘cellar dwellers’ Jakarta Bintangs left the Eagles lamenting an opportunity lost with a last second, one point win in their only win of the day.  

Player of the Tournament was awarded to Travis Bull (Philippine Eagles) and the Leading Goal Scorer was Thomas Murphy (Hong Kong Dragons). Mark of the Day was Lloyd Davis (Singapore Wombats). Goal of the Day went to Will Robinson (Philippine Eagles) and Best Player in the Grand Final was Lloyd Davis (Singapore Wombats).  

All games were played in great spirit partly due to the able umpiring of Brett Marshall, Peter Lawrence and Gary Barnes with goalies Margaret Morgan, Richie Amurao, Paul Damkjaer and Ben Cannon kept busy throughout the day. Dallas Cox, Doug Treasure, Richard Keane and Gary Wines (from Hong Kong) ran the boundaries.  

The day would have not run smoothly but for the tireless efforts of Michael Edgley, responsible for all the stats, time and scoreboard management and team lists and MC and game day coordinator Derek Ackary. Michael Macaraig kept the Scoreboard ticking efficiently all day and although not playing, but keeping ‘fitness levels’ up were ball retrievers at each goal end, Daniel Edge and Phillip Boncahig.  

The Philippine AFL “congratulates the Warriors in their fine win and thanks all the teams for their support and invite them all to return in May 2013 for the Sixth Manila Cup”   

All match scores and cup ladder can be found at http://www.pafl.com.ph/manila-12-a-side-cup12.shtml

Thanks to Peter Stone for assistance with this story.