Written by: Arthur Long
Edited by: Cheng Kai Wen
Photos by: Eusoff Works
The handball game against Raffles Hall almost didn’t happen because it started raining when the boys were warming up at the SRC courts. However, the rain faded as quick as it came, and it was decided that the game was to go on. This game was crucial to the Eusoff boys, as they had previously lost their first match to Kent Ridge. If they lost this one too, they were out of IHG. They needed to win this match to qualify for the semi-finals.
Eusoff’s starting line-up included Josh, Jireh, Jovi, Jun Jie, Jeremy, Darren and Yong Sheng. Wow, so any ‘J’s starting. Raffles started the throw-off and took a shot off their attack. Eusoff’s star keeper, Yong Sheng, was there to block the shot. Eusoff counters and a few good passes from Jovi to Darren to JJ puts JJ in a good spot to shoot. He does and scores to get first blood for Eusoff. Raffles gets a penalty soon after but Yong Sheng saves it. Eusoff dominated the start of the game and put themselves at a 5 – 0 lead in the first 10 minutes.
Literally looking like he's rising from the dead just to put another score in for Eusoff!
Raffles brought a few points back but Eusoff was still heavy on the attack. The usual suspects like Jovi, JJ and Darren were prominent in making plays and scoring goals. 17 minutes in, the score was 10 – 7 in Eusoff’s favour. Raffles was on the ball and advancing dangerously close to our goal. JJ steps in and fouls the Raffles player attempting to shoot and gets a 2 minute suspension as a result. Unfortunately, that means that Raffles gets a penalty as well. Their penalty taker steps up to the line and shoots, but misses just right of the goal. 2 minutes left to halftime, a Raffles player attempts to shoot but goes down behind the 6m line. The referee calls a foul and Josh received a 2 minute suspension. Raffles get another penalty and they score to make it 11 – 9, with Eusoff still leading.
The Eusoff crowd was buzzing with enthusiasm throughout the game, cheering our boys on with “Let’s go Eusoff” and chanting “DEFENCE”. A substantial number of supporters occupied the supprters’ stand despite the short rain just before the game started.
Shots after shots, all for Eusoff!
At the start of the second half, Eusoff only had 5 men on the court (excluding Yong Sheng). Josh was still serving his suspension from the first half. Eusoff starts the half and is careful to adopt a slower playstyle until Josh was able to get back on court. Raffles scores the first goal of the half but Jovi created momentum for Eusoff by scoring two to maintain their lead. 13 – 10. As the game progressed, Eusoff maintained good pressure on Raffles, but Raffles were slowly narrowing the score gap. And they finally did 15 minutes into the second half. 15 – 15.
Eusoff and Raffles were neck and neck, with the score at 19 – 19 with 2 minutes of the game to go. The unstoppable pivot Jovi puts one into the back of the net with his signature jump over the Raffles’ defending wall. Then, Jireh, the only freshie on the court, makes a beautiful shot to give Eusoff a comfortable lead at 21 – 19. All they had to do was stop Raffles from scoring at this point, and they did. The Eusoff boys were defending with all their might, clamping the Raffles players and not giving them a chance at goal. Finally, the full-time whistle was blown.
The crowd and the Eusoff boys on court went wild, cheering for the victory that secured Eusoff handball a spot in the semi-finals. Good job boys, the game was hard-fought and the victory was well-deserved. Onwards to the semi-finals!
Not forgetting our supporters who came down <3
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