JAMES Halasan Ryan, born to Dabawenya nurse Fe and British scientist Edward, was instrumental to the Philippine Junior Volcanoes' 33-19 win over China Friday to finish third in the Asia Rugby U19 Division 1 tournament at the Bang-Bon Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The United Kingdom (UK)-based Ryan along with Owen Wakeham Craig Wallace, Dean Beaton and Reymarc Bustillo scored tries to lift the Philippines' rally from a 0-14 deficit at the start of the game.
Edward Ryan, in a match report furnished to SunStar Davao,
said that while the Philippines was a player short, China took full advantage applying territorial pressure and scoring two converted tries from close range.
With China launching another attack, hopes dimmed for the Philippines. But then James Ryan, a Dudley Kingswinford Rugby Football Club member in UK, won a turn-over stealing the ball, and China conceded a penalty trying to win it back illegally.
Edward reported that the Philippines won the line-out and a couple off further rucks later, James Ryan broke through the line and linked with fellow forward hooker Jeromy Cairns who made a 30-yard run to set up an attack 10 meters out. James Ryan again made a run from 10 meters only to be stopped centimeters short but was able to present the ball back to his own team.
The Junior Volcanoes were just about to win the ball from the ruck when a Chinese player illegally dragged to ball back with his hand over the line towards the Chinese defenders. All the players stopped expecting the whistle to blow for a penalty and most likely a yellow card for a cynical play.
“But just as the whistle reached the referee's lips, James who had quickly regained his feet after his earlier run, pounced on the loose ball and scored the try. The try was converted to make the score 7-14. All of this had been done when the Philippines was still a player short.”
After tying the match at 14-all at half time, the Philippines kept its momentum, foiling China's attempts to regain dominance and they never looked back to secure the win.
The Junior Volcanoes lost to Thailand, 8-16, in the semifinals.