SELANGOR'S ARAS CLAIMS VICTORY IN MCKK RUGBY PREMIER 7S 2023 CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

KUALA KANGSAR – Selangor-based Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Jalan Tiga (ARAS) were crowned champions of the 11th MCKK Rugby Premier 7s (P7s) 2023 Championship, marking a new era with a commanding 24-0 victory over Sekolah Sukan Malaysia Pahang (SSMP) in the Cup category final at The Malay College Kuala Kangsar field.

ARAS demonstrated their dominance from the outset, launching relentless attacks that left SSMP unable to contain their advances. The Selangor side scored two tries and a conversion in the first half to establish a comfortable 12-0 lead.

In the second half, SSMP struggled to mount any effective attack or score a try, while ARAS continued to shine, adding two more tries and a conversion to close out a resounding 24-0 win.

Two outstanding ARAS players, Anas Zulkarnain Mizan and Wan Danial Syazwan Wan Zulkifli, were named Player of the Match and Best Player of the Tournament respectively.

The awards ceremony was graced by His Royal Highness Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa, the Crown Prince of Perak.

In the semi-finals, SSMP advanced to the final by comfortably defeating Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tun Hussein Onn (THOR) 24-15, while ARAS overwhelmed Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar (EC) 43-0.

In the battle for third place, THOR overcame 2020 champions EC 19-12.

In the Plate category final, Sekolah Sukan Tunku Mahkota Ismail (SSTMI) emerged victorious by defeating host team MCKK 20-12. SSTMI, four-time champions in 2011, 2012, 2016 and 2017, had exited the Cup in the quarter-finals with a 24-0 defeat to SSMP.

MCKK suffered a similar fate, halted in the quarter-finals by EC, who won 20-7.

In the Bowl category final, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan HOSBA (HOSBA) claimed the title by outclassing Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultan Yahya Petra 1 (SSYP1) 35-5.

In the Shield category final, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultan Sulaiman (ART) emerged champions after defeating Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman (STAR) 17-5.

A total of 24 teams took part in the 11th edition of the MCKK Rugby Premier 7s (P7s) Championship, including two international teams – Shizuoka Seiko Academy from Japan and Sekolah Menengah Agama Darunnajah Islamic (SMAD) from Jakarta, Indonesia – adding a global dimension to the competition.

Match Day 3 results:

Cup final: ARAS 24 – 0 SSMP

Cup 3rd/4th place: THOR 19 – 12 EC

Cup semi-finals: THOR 15 – 24 SSMP; ARAS 43 – 0 EC

Cup quarter-finals: THOR 45 – 0 SMK TM; SSMP 24 – 0 SSTMI

Shield final: ART 17 – 5 STAR

Shield semi-finals: RMC 0 – 27 ART; STAR 27 – 5 SMAD

Bowl final: HOSBA 35 – 5 SSYP1

Bowl semi-finals: SHOAW 10 – 35 HOSBA; SSA 12 – 14 SSYP1

Plate final: MCKK 12 – 20 SSTMI

Plate semi-finals: MCKK 31 – 0 SMK ABI; SMK TM 10 – 38 SSTMI