http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/regional/news...tions+promotionPhilippines win Asian 5 Nations promotion(IRB.COM) Saturday 4 July 2009
Tournament hosts Philippine Volcanoes overcame Guam 25-0 to complete a clean sweep in the HSBC Asian Five Nations Division 3 and ensure promotion to Division 2 in 2010.
In the other match on the final day, fourth seeds Iran upset the formbook to overcome third seeds Indonesia with a rousing 48-13 victory at the Nomads Sporting Club in Manila.
Inspired by the surprising boot of lock forward Rafael Zappia, the Philippines scored 22 second half points, aided by some mistakes from Guam that led to three players being sin-binned, and as a result the visitors played swathes of the match a man down.
The first half was a tense affair with neither side able to establish dominance, the Philippines more dangerous led by captain Michael Letts but only three points came from the boot of Zappia in the 15th minute.
Yellow cards for Guam in the 39th and 45th minutes gave the Philippines the opening it was seeking and led to Guam conceding eight points - a try to number 8 Fred Morris and a penalty to Zappia - for an 11-point lead. In the 68th minute Zappia finished a fine team effort to touch down for a try that he successfully converted to bring his personal tally to 13 points on the day.
A third and final yellow card to Guam prop forward Matthew Toves led to another score for Rupert Zappia and, showing that kicking skills clearly run in the family, he Zappia converted his try from a tight angle to bring the final score to 25-0.
The win hands the Philippines the Magellan Cup and also sees them advance to next year’s HSBC Asian Five Nations Division II Tournament against the likes of Thailand (the relegated Division I contender), China and India.
http://sports.inquirer.net/sportsevents/sp...ain-Division-IIRP Volcanoes blank Guam, gain Division IIBy Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:07:00 07/05/2009
MANILA, Philippines—Mission accomplished.The Philippines banked on another strong finish to whitewash Guam , 25-0, Saturday and rule the Asian Five Nations Division III rugby tournament at the Nomads field in Parañaque City.
The Volcanoes scored all but three of their points in the second half as they clinched promotion to Division II, where they will be pitted against Thailand, China and India in June next year.
Rafael Zappia, a Filipino-Australian based in Sydney, accounted for 13 points, scoring one try and two field goals to fire up the Volcanoes, who won both their games via shutouts, including an 18-0 blanking of Iran.
Rafael’s younger brother, Rupert, also sparkled off the bench as he iced the win with another try and a two-point field goal two minutes from time.
“This win puts us in the map in international rugby,” said Volcanoes coach Matt Cullen.
The Volcanoes dominated the first half for long spells but only scored through Zappiah’s 35-meter field goal in the 15th minute.
But chineses in the Guamanians’ armor began to show early in the second half and the Volcanoes were quick to pounce on the opportunities.
A defensive offside handed Zappiah an easy penalty conversion from 10 meters in the 55th minute to double the lead, five minutes before the Volcanoes scored their first try by simply overpowering the Guamanians on a 16-man scrum, leaving Freddie Morris with the easiest of touches to score.
“We regrouped at halftime and put more pressure on them (Guamanians),” said Cullen, who has a squad with an average age of 22.
“We knew it was going to open up in the second half and our fitness level showed,” said RP skipper Michael Letts, a marauding fullback who was instrumental in the Volcanoes’ two tries.
Earlier, Iran overwhelmed Indonesia 48-6, in the third place game of the event backed by HSBC, Guinness, Philippine Sports Commission, Kukri, Gilbert, Overgaard, HMR, Jobiane, Genri, Seapac, Hardy’s Coke, Maxwear, Department of Tourism, Focused Business Solutions, RJH Consultancy, Brisbane Technologies and Murphy’s Bar.
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?artic...ubCategoryId=69RP reigns in Asian 5-nation rugby By Joey Villar Updated July 05, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines overpowered a listless Guam side, 25-0, yesterday to reign supreme in the Asian Five Nations Division III Tournament at the Nomads field in Parañaque City.
The Volcanoes delivered all but three of their points in the second half as they topped the event paving the way for their promotion to Division II where they play Thailand, China and India in June next year.
Sydney-based Fil-Australian brothers Rafael and Rupert Zappia shone for the Volcanoes.
“This win puts us in the international rugby map,” said Volcanoes coach Matt Cullen. “We want to compete with the best in Asia and we want to make the Philippines proud of its rugby team.”
The Volcanoes took control from the start, breaking through on Zappiah’s 35-meter field goal in the 15th minute.
Then weaknesses by the Guamanians were unmasked in the second half with the Volcanoes capitalizing on golden opportunities.
“We regrouped at halftime and put more pressure on them (Guamanians),” said Cullen.
“We knew it’s going to open up in the second half,” said RP skipper Michael Letts, a marauding fullback who was instrumental in the Volcanoes’ two tries.
Earlier, Iran overwhelmed Indonesia 48-6, for a third-place finish in the event sponsored by HSBC, Guinness, Philippine Sports Commission, Kukri, Gilbert, Overgaard, HMR, Jobiane, Genri, Seapac, Hardy’s Coke, Maxwear, Department of Tourism, Focused Business Solutions, RJH Consultancy, Brisbane Technologies and Murphy’s Bar and Restaurant.
And rugby really improves a player's facial structure making them a lot more handsomely chiseled.
will not equate to more HAPPINESS 
