Malaysia create SEA Games rugby history

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia made SEA Games rugby history when the men’s team won the gold medal and the women’s the bronze in the rugby 7s competition of the 2017 Kuala Lumpur Games  (KL2017) today.
The men buried Singapore 22-7 in the final at the Petaling Jaya Municipal Stadium, erasing their disappointment of only achieving the bronze at the Singapore edition two years. The Philippines won the gold then and Singapore the silver. 
The girls played their hearts out to secure a 7-5 win over the Philippines for the bronze, their first ever medal in the SEA Games.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, his wife  Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin were present to give moral support.
Malaysia went on the offensive from the starting whistle and collected the first points from a try by 
Muhammad Azwan Zuwairi Mat Zizi but Singapore narrowed the deficit to 7-5, from a  try by Yau Yu Hong followed by a conversion by Marah Moehammad Ishraf Marah Moehammad Hoessein.
However, the homesters coached by  Mohd Saizul Hafifi regrouped afterwards resulting in Muhammad Zulhisham Rasli outrunning the opponents for a try followed by a conversion by Muhammad Azwan, leaving the score to stand at 12-7 at the break.
With the jam-packed 25,000-capacity stadium egging the boys on and giving them the energy as the ”eighth” player, it was not to be Singapore’s day,
Team captain  Zulkiflee Azmi described the result as mission accomplished.
“It is a great feeling making sporting history for the country,” he said, alluding to the fact that Malaysia’s best ever finish before today was the bronze medal.
As for the girls, they made their own history by securing a podium finish.
Praise is due to the coach Nik Safuan Ismade Nik Man whose game plan denied the Filipinos chances after the hosts led 7-5 from a try by Siti Farhanita Maddin followed by a conversion by Rozlliana Mohd Ridwan. — Bernama