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Philippines earn promotion to Division II in 2010

The Philippine Volcanoes completed a clean sweep for tournament hosts in the HSBC Asian Five Nations today to win Division III and ensure promotion to Division II in 2010. The Philippines shut out Guam 25-nil after a convincing second half display, while fourth seeds Iran upset the formbook to overcome third seeds Indonesia in a rousing 48-13 victory today at the Nomads Sporting Club in Manila. Led by the surprising boot of lock forward Rafael Zappia, (the goal kicking hero of the Philippines' 15-0 opening shutout of Iran), the Philippines scored 22 points in the second half to outdistance its top regional rival, Guam. The Volcanoes effort was assisted by some crucial mistakes from Guam that led to three players being sin-binned and the visitors playing large swathes of the second half undermanned.

As befits these two familiar rivals, the first half was a tense affair with neither side able to establish dominance or cross the try line in the opening exchanges. Despite the low score line, the Philippines looked the more dangerous side from the outset as captain Michael Letts put in some fine individual runs from his fullback position only to see the last passes go tragically forward or to ground. The only scoring in the opening interval came from Rafael Zappia who slotted a penalty in the 15th minute to give the hosts a 3-0 lead at the half.

Crucial yellow cards against Guam in the 39th and 45th minute gave the Philippines the opening it was seeking and led to Guam conceding 8 points (a try to No 8 Fred Morris and a penalty to Zappia) for an 11-point deficit going into the 60 minute marker.

The game was still tight and within range for the visitors until the 68th minute when 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 yet another try by a Zappia, but this time Rupert Zappia, who finished off a loping run on the wing to dot down in the corner and bring the score to 23-0. Showing that kicking skills run in the family, Rupert Zappia converted his try from a very tough angle to bring the final score to 25-0.

The win sees the Philippines retain the Magellan Cup which is traditionally played for between these two rugby rivals 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.

In today's 3rd/4th placed play-off, the tournament 4th seeds Iran upset 3rd seeds Indonesia to finish third after a comprehensive 48-13 victory. The first half was a back and forth affair with Iran and Indonesia trading blows as the Iranians scored a try in the first minute only to concede a penalty immediately after. Iran struck again in the 15th minute and then conceded another kickable penalty in the 17th minute to bring the score to 12-6 Iran.

Undaunted, Iran scored the next two tries in the 19th and 22nd minute - this time ensuring that there was no reply from Indonesia with some stifling defence. In the 24th minute, talented Indonesian fly half and captain Kirk Arundale was forced from the pitch with injury as the Rhinos trailed 24-6. Indonesia failed to find the additional gear required to beat a physical Iranian side that had finally found their attack in the last game of the tournament. Iran scored a further 4 tries in the second half to coast home easy winners 48-13 with a brace of tries from centres Hamid Taghavi Nejad and Amin Hosseinzade.

Hosseinzade added to his ten point try tally with eight points from four successful conversions while Indonesia scored its first try of the tournament through flanker Daniel Nugroho with the conversion from fullback Warren Wilcox.

Reflecting the growth of Asian rugby and the competitiveness of the HSBC Asian Five Nations, the Division III tournament was inaugurated this year featuring four teams drawn from last year's three regional competitions: the Philippines, the winners of the 2008 HSBC A5N regional tournament in Guam; Guam, runners-up in their home tournament last year; Indonesia winners of the Jakarta Regional Tournament in 2008 and Iran, winners of the regional tournament in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan in 2008.

Today's win by the Philippines completes a clean sweep of the Divisional and Regional tournaments in the HSBC Asian Five Nations 2009, all of which have been won by the host teams. It also concludes this year's HSBC Asian Five Nations action with bigger and better to come when Asian rugby's premiere competition fires up again in April 2010 with the Rugby World Cup 2011 Qualifiers.

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