Thailand win South East Asia 7s

Singapore's Lai Pui San in action during the 28-7 victory against Laos during the SEA 7s group matches at Yio Chu Kang Stadium yesterday. The home side will take on Thailand in today's final. (PHOTO: Straits Times/Seah Kwang Peng)

In front of a crowd of 10,000 in the National Stadium, Singapore's women's sevens team succumbed to the Thais for the second time in the tournament. Their 0-42 final defeat was almost a repeat of last year's SEA Games women's rugby sevens final wher ethey lost 0-39.

Despite recording holding the Thais to 5-29 in Friday's group stage, the home team had no answer to their opponents' physicality on the wings, and struggled to retain possession throughout.

Coach Wang Shao Ing, however, was pleased with her charges' efforts, highlighting the fact that only two players from last year's SEA Games squad (captain Alvina Neo and Christabelle Lim) remain in the team. She said: "The positive thing is we didn't concede any tries through the middle, which to me demonstrates the girls' effort. With regards to the SEA Sevens, we met our target of getting into the finals, beating the other teams along the way."

Singapore Rugby Union chief Low Teo Ping was pleased with the outcome of the first South East Asia 7s, which also featyued a men's event where Singapore also lost in the final. Speaking to local media on the sidelines of the tournament, he said: "We organised the SEA 7s to develop 7s here and in the region. If we want to progress, our neighbours must play 7s as good as us. If you look at (the standard of the 7s game) in Asia, trying to play Japan and Korea is out of the question… So we need our neighbours to improve along with us.

"We have given both our men and women's teams this stage. Now that they have gotten into the finals, I cannot ask for more."

Singapore women's coach Wang Shao Ing was equally pleased, sporting a broad grin as she walked towards the stands at Yio Chu Kang. She witnessed her charges bounce back from a 29-5 defeat by Thailand in the group stage to beat Laos 28-7 to qualify for the semi-final, where they edged past the Philippines 12-5.

"It's pleasing who we came through the tournament… Getting to the final was the target" she said, lauding the impact of such a regional tournament on the women's game. "It's really great that we are hosting this, it does help raise awareness for women's rugby. After (last year's) SEA Games, there was a spike in interest in women's rugby and we hope there'll be more after this."

Thailand 34-0 LaosThailand 29-5 SingaporeSingapore 28-7 Laos

5th/6th playoff

Indonesia 0-35 Laos

Semi-finalSingapore 12-5 PhilippinesThailand 41-0 Malysia

Third-placePhilippines 12-0 Malysia

Final

Singapore 0-42 Thailand