2024 Men’s Division 2 Asian Champs Wrap-Up

By Chris McAsey

The Singapore Wombats clinched their first Asian Championship title since 2014 with a powerful unbeaten run through Mens Div 2. 

A high standard Grand Final against the Hong Kong Dragons featuring some highly skilled expats saw the ball move quickly from end to end. But Singapore’s system was the difference, with slick handball and overlap running getting players into space to set up multiple scoring opportunities.

It was an impressive performance by the Wombats, who should account for themselves well in Div 1 if they can keep their squad together. 

The keenly contested Div 2 featured a swag of close games, with little separating the teams in an even competition.

Semi-finalists Thailand Tigers and the Cambodian Eagles showed plenty of positive signs. The strong Tigers line-up pushed Grand Finalists Singapore and Hong Kong all the way in Round 1 before narrow losses.

The Cambodian Eagles featured a host of local players and while undersized, were incredibly persistent and unlucky not to win more games. After starting with a 1-point win over the Malaysian Warriors, the Eagles lost narrowly to the China Reds and Thailand, before getting over the Philippine Eagles in their final game.

Their battle with Malaysia was a tight and thrilling contest, with the Eagles hanging on by 1 point against the fast-finishing Warriors. 

The China Reds were also consistently competitive and unlucky not to win more games. After a thrilling 14 – 14 draw with the Philippine Eagles, they got over semi-finalists the Cambodian Eagles (13 – 9) before a narrow loss to Grand Finalist Hong Kong Dragons (19 – 25).

RD 1

PE 6 – TT 46

CE 15 – MW 14

HKD 15 – MW 15

SW 14 – TT 13

CR 14 – PE 14

HKD 28 – MW 1

HKD 26 – TT 18

CR 13 – CE 9

SW 16 – MW 0

TT 14 – CE 13

MW 16 – PE 8

HKD 25 – CR 19

CE 21 – PE 9

SW 42 – CR 19

 

SEMIS

SW 48 – CE 12

HKD 23 – TT 13

 

GF

SW 27 – HKD 7