Saigon pipped Phnom Penh 21-17 in the shadow of the winning post to lift the coveted Indochine Cup, the symbol of rugby supremacy in an inter-city competition involving Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos, at the Old Stadium on Saturday.

The hosts led every yard of the way until the visitors nudged ahead seconds before the final whistle.

“The day-long competition was a great success.

There was a lot of fun and fast-paced action,” tournament director James Sterling told the Post yesterday.

According to the Cambodian Federation of Rugby, the response for the gala dinner later this month has been very promising.

Proceeds from the event will help fund the federation’s developmental activities.

Although the Indochine Cup was the first major post-league-season event, the CFR is getting ready to stage the prestigious Asian 5 Nations Division V tournament next month, when Cambodia will play host to Laos and Brunei.

To contact the reporter on this story: H S Manjunath at [email protected]