SERDANG: Keris Conlay Club overcame Mersing Eagles Rugby Club 27-19 to lift the Malaysia Rugby League (MRL) Premier Division title for the fourth time at Padang A of the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) on Sunday.
The Mersing Eagles stunned their more illustrious rivals with a second-minute try by Joshua Barak Kiniviliametuidriva, which Mohd Razui Mohd Rozan converted to go 7-0 up.
Undaunted, Keris Conlay hit back with a try by Amirul Mukminin Amizan in the 24th minute, which Mohd Fairuz Ab Rahman converted to level the score at 7-7.
Four minutes later, Keris Conlay went 10-7 ahead through a Mohd Fairuz penalty.
Keris Conlay extended their lead to 17-7 when Estonia Muakatoga touched down for Mohd Fairuz to convert in the 36th minute.
Mohd Fairuz, named the best player, scored another penalty in the 62nd minute to give
Keris Conlay a commanding 20-7 lead.
The steely Mersing Eagles fought back to score a try through Waqaliva Jone Vucukula in the 64th minute to narrow the score to 12-20.
Four minutes later, the Mersing Eagles moved to within a point of Keris Conlay — 19-20 — when Muhammad Haikal Ibrahim scored a try and Mohd Razui converted.
Coach Mohd Farid Syazwan Abu Bakar’s Keris Conlay team finally sealed the victory when they were awarded a penalty try in the 80th minute due to rough play by a Mersing Eagles player, thus handing Keris Conlay a 27-19 win.
The referee can award a penalty try (seven points, with no conversion to save time) if, in his opinion, a try would have been scored but for the unfair play of the defending team.
Mohd Farid praised his team’s tactical nous and never-say-die attitude in thwarting the late Mersing Eagles fightback to land their fourth Premier Division title, having also clinched the crown in 2013, 2015 and 2017. – Bernama
