Yesterday, the Dubai Heat took out the 2008 Asian Championships in Singapore. They were too hot all day winning their four preliminary games, their semi final and lastly, the big one against Singpore.

In the Semi Finals, Dubai accounted for Hong Kong and Singapore took care of Bali.

The Vietnam Swans started strongly – and lost Sam Grigg in the opening stanza of our first match with a hammy that sidelined him for the rest of the day. Thailand beat us in that match by 4 points. It could have been ours.

Second match was the reigning Premiers, Hong Kong. We surprised them and ourselves with some ferocious tackling being led by Nathan. We were a real chance but went down by 6 points. The feeling after that match was awesome but with the benefit of hindsight was perhaps more like a feeling of premature celebration. PErhaps we thought we had just played our Grand Final.

In teh third match, Dubai crushed us leaving us without a score on the board. Then we played the Lao Elephants who claimed their second scalp of the day (the first being Thailand). It was a huge performance by Lao. Last year they had 6 players play with the Vietnam Swans. A year later, they have formed their own team, entered their team in the Asian Champs – and claimed two victories.

Congratulations to the Dubai Heat and to Marty Sharples and the rest of his Lao Elephants on their very impressive debut. Congratulations also to the hosting Singapore Wombats for their organisation of the day.

Meanwhile, the Vietnam Swans are ever so close to running a string of big performances. The skill set in the first two matches was goood. Verrry good.

More to follow.