Women’s Premier League Cricket

mission-road-wicket

The first ever fixture of the Women’s Premier League will be played as a curtain raiser to Hong Kong’s Twenty20 International clash against Scotland at Tin Kwong Road Recreational Ground on Sunday 31 January, 2016.

The “Sail” squad will take on the “Bauhinia” squad, with the first ball being bowled at 8:15am, in a match that aims at providing a “best vs the best” competition to minimise the gap between club and international representative cricket.

With the lure of playing in major global tournaments and gaining support from Hong Kong Sports Institute, 2016 is an important year for women’s cricket in Hong Kong. The premier league tournament will give national selectors an opportunity to observe how the players perform under pressure.

After spending time with Melbourne Renegades as an Associate Rookie in the Women’s Big Bash League, “Bauhinia” captain Mariko Hill is back in Hong Kong and ready to bring her experience to the team.

mariko-hill-cap“Mariko Hill will no doubt open the bowling and bat in the top four. Her pace is as quick as anyone’s in associate women’s cricket. It will be great to see if she can develop her bowling at an end of an innings also.” said Director of Cricket and Women’s Head Coach Charlie Burke.

“Her WBBL experience will help the squad by understanding how important preparation is and also showing that there are a lot of opportunities now opening up in women’s cricket outside of Hong Kong.”

The Women’s Premier League will be a three-match series and form the main selection guide for the Hong Kong squad over the coming 12 months.

“I think we might get a few surprises with some other players stepping up and keen to take on extra responsibilities within the team,” said Burke.

The second fixture will be played on the 7th of February at 1pm. The third game will be scheduled shortly.

Women’s Premier League
Date: 8:15am, 31 January, 2016
Venue: Tin Kwong Road Recreational Ground
Tickets: Free

Women’s Rugby Fixtures – 30 January, 2016

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Match Report: HK Scottish Sekongers 76-10 Discovery Bay Pirates – 23 January, 2016

Hong Kong Scottish Sekongers v Discovery Bay Pirates1

Playing Scottish in this weather is just like being at Murrayfield,” said the man from Discovery Bay. “Yeah, but without the Bovril,” was the dour reply from the Scottish supporter, as he sought warmth on the concrete seats of Shek Kip Mei Stadium. At least it wasn’t raining. With both teams in the lower half of the 10s League an evenly contested match was expected. And for once both teams has reserves, even if some had come straight from a 7s competition at Sandy Bay.

The Sekongers kicked-off, Andrea caught the ball for Pirates, ran to the try line and scored. Simple. It was too far for the conversion, but 5-0 to DB Pirates. The HK Sekongers fought back and twice Hui Man-ling, the speedy winger, forgot her inability to catch and scored under the posts. Karis Cheng converted. 14-5 to HK Sekongers.

However, DB Pirates replied with a try in the corner. Again too far for the conversion, but at 14-10, the game was evenly balanced. Alas for the Pirates not. Neon Chau scored a try for HKS Sekongers, followed by Fong Siu-yau, and two more by Hui Man-ling. Karis managed two of the conversion. Halftime score 38/10 to HK Sekongers.

Hong Kong Scottish Sekongers v Discovery Bay Pirates3

Halftime, so often a speed bump in HKS fortunes this season, proved to be a mere water break as they continued their onslaught. Andie Ma scored the next try, with Karis Cheng converting. Then Karis scored and converted a try herself. Followed by Li Sze-ting (Try); Hui Man-ling (Fifth Try); Karis Cheng (Conversion); and Li Sze-ting (Second Try); 69-10 for HKS Sekongers.

With the game approaching fulltime, the Sekongers, who had until then played well, suddenly became error prone. Chan Po-ki dived for the try line, only to be taken down by the Pirates defence and knocked-on. In fairness to Pirates they had not given up, in spite of the score. As the referee announced, “Last play,” and set the scrum, Pirates were determined to get one more try. But the Sekongers seemed only interested in increasing their penalty count. Penalty after penalty, 10 meter after 10 meter, the Sekongers went back. The Pirates were now in the Sekongers half and deserved to score. But luck was with the Sekongers. Somehow Pirates lost possession. Once again the ball was passed to Hui Man-ling, who outran the defence, scored her sixth try under the posts, which Karis Cheng converted in the 25th minutes of the twenty minutes half.

The full-time score HKS Sekongers 76-10 DB Pirates was not a fair reflection on the Pirates who fought hard and never gave up.
DB Pirates Player of the Match – Andrea.
HK Scottish Sekongers Player of the Match – Hui Man-ling.

Hong Kong Scottish Sekongers v Discovery Bay Pirates3

DB Pirates 76-10 HK Scottish Kukris
@ Shek Kip Mei, Kick-off: 15:00
HKS Sekongers: Anna Kam, Po-Ki Chan, Tung-Hoi Jim, Scarlet Ma Wan, Neon Chau, Sze-Ying Li, Karis Cheng, Andie Ma, Siu-Yau Fong, Man-Ling Hui
Tries: Man-Ling Hui (6), Sze-Ying Li (2), Neon Chau, Karis Cheng, Andie Ma, Siu-Yau Fong
Conversions: Karis Cheng (8)

Photos: Rabbit in Black

Cathay’s Cantonese Tour de Force

sorrowful lute

In 1954 to cater to the local predominately Cantonese-speaking audience the Motion Picture & General Investment Co Ltd, later known as Cathay, began making Cantonese language films in Hong Kong. Recruiting, amongst others, the directorial talents of Tso Kea, Wong Tin-lam and Wong Toi, these films included adaptations of literary classics, airwave novels (stories originally told over the radio) and foreign films.

As part of the retrospective Angels over the Rainbow – Cathay’s 80th Anniversary Celebration the LSCD is screening several Cantonese films from that era at the HK film Archive over the weekend of the 12-13 March. All films are black and white and in Cantonese with, sadly, no English sub-titles.

The romantic tragedy Love Lingers On (1957) is based on Emily Brontë’s gothic novel Wuthering Heights. Concentrating on the characters’ simmering mental troubles, Tso Kea shepherds the tale of profound passion, thwarted love and bitter vengefulness with broad narrative strokes and delicate orchestration of mise-en-scène.
Love Lingers On: 1pm, 12 March, 2016 at HK Film Archive, $40

love lingers on - film still

Based on the Hollywood film Love Me or Leave Me (1955), The Sorrowful Lute (1957) features the rooftop entertainment scene of Guangzhou and portrays love and careers, and fame and power, in the Cantonese opera world. Tso Kea brilliantly depicts a crazed relationship balanced with extreme and subtle emotions. Ng Cho-fan embraces his role as a crippled sponsor with a shady side, while Fong Yim-fun counters with a riveting turn as a Cantonese opera diva struggling in lust and fame.
The Sorrowful Lute: 5pm, 12 March, 2016 at HK Film Archive, $40

second spring - film still

Second Spring (1960) is adapted from a typical airwave novel by Li Ngaw and tells of the reunion of two miserable lovers (Law Kim-long and Christine Pai Lu-ming) after going through ordeals. Wong Tin-lam’s skilful mise-en-scène brings out the strong script structure and introduces a humorous servant (Leung Sing-po) and a defiant maid (Chan Ho-kau) to provide much comic relief.
Second Spring: 7:30pm, 12 March, 2016 at HK Film Archive, $40

Also adapted from a Li Ngaw airwave novel, The Song of the Nightingale (1961) follows a poor young man (Woo Fung) and an ill-fated village girl (Christine Pai Lu-ming) being forced to leave their home village and toil away to rise from despair. Wong Toi fluently lays out the twist-filled plot, in which Pai shows her resilience with measured precision and depth. In a role that moves from wealthy heir to poor and desperate scammer, Cheng Kwan-min utterly inhabits a loathsome character, and is paired in a duo of classic melodrama villains with Lee Hong-kum playing his two-faced partner in crime.
The Song of the Nightingale: 7:30pm, 13 March, 2016 at HK Film Archive, $40

the song of the nightingale

Women’s Rugby Results – 23 January, 2016

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Premiership

HKFC Ice 0-46 Valley Black
@ HK Football Club, Kick-off: 18:00

CWB Phoenix 15-5 Tai Po Dragons
@ So Kon Po, Kick-off: 18:00

Kowloon 3-35 Gai Wu Falcons
@ Happy Valley, Kick-off: 18:00

Premiership table - 25 January, 2016

National 15s

Valley Red 10-15 Gai Wu Fawkes
@ Happy Valley, Kick-off: 15:00

CWB Pheasants 10-10 City
@ KGV, Kick-off: 16:30

USRC Tigers 15-0 Revolution SRC
@ King’s Park, Kick-off: 18:00

HKCC 41-0 Tai Po Dragons
@ King’s Park, Kick-off: 15:00

HKFC Fire 0-27 Police Sirens
@ Police Boundary Street, Kick-off: 18:00

National 15s table - 25 January 2016

National 10s

DB Pirates 76-10 HK Scottish Kukris
@ Shek Kip Mei, Kick-off: 15:00
HKS Sekongers: Anna Kam, Po-Ki Chan, Tung-Hoi Jim, Scarlet Ma Wan, Neon Chau, Sze-Ying Li, Karis Cheng, Andie Ma, Siu-Yau Fong, Man-Ling Hui
Tries: Man-Ling Hui (6), Sze-Ying Li (2), Neon Chau, Karis Cheng, Andie Ma, Siu-Yau Fong
Conversions: Karis Cheng (8)

National 10s - 25 January table

Photo: Phoebe Leung

Australia Day @ Grand Hyatt – 26 January, 2016

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The Australian Consulate annual Australia Day party took place at the Grand Hyatt, guest of honour was Carrie Lam. Over 450 Australian and HongKongers celebrated with some fine Ozzie grub including meat pies and violet crumble ice-cream.
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Hong Kong Beat Scotland by 109 Runs in First ODI

Hong Kong Beat Scotland by 109 Runs in First ODI

Hong Kong have marked their first official One Day International on home soil with a comprehensive 109-run win in their World Cricket League Championship match against Scotland.

Sent into bat under grey skies at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground, the home side posted 259 thanks to a record 170-run partnership between Anshuman Rath and Nizikat Khan.

In response, captain Tanwir Afzal led from the front with 3-21 from 10 overs to help dismiss Scotland for just 150.

But it was the partnership of Rath and Nizikat, a record in one-day internationals for Hong Kong, that proved most crucial after Hong Kong had wobbled early at 3-55.

Rath was largely the steady hand, scoring his 97 from 136 balls, while Nizikat was more brutal striking at better than a run a ball for most of his innings.

At one stage Hong Kong had reached 3-225 with seven overs to go but some tight Scottish bowling skittled the lower order. The final seven wickets fell for just 34 runs. Ali Evans was the pick of the bowlers for Scotland with 4-41.

Hong Kong Beat Scotland by 109 Runs in First ODI - Hong KongBut 259 looked a far more intimidating total after Tanwir removed Scotland’s key duo Kyle Coetzer (6) and Matthew Machan (0) in consecutive balls. Spinner Nadeem Ahmed cleaned up the lower order, taking 4-26 off his 8.1 overs. Callum McLeod played a lone hand for the Scots, making 58 off 78 balls.

Man of the Match Anshuman Rath applauded his batting partner Nizikat for helping him reach his highest ODI score. “To be honest, a lot of credit goes to Kat, I was sort of getting edgy as I faced quite a lot of balls but he kept me grounded,” Rath said. “I think the win is a big, big confidence boost that not only we beat them, but beat them in a fairly convincing manner.”

The second ODI is on Thursday with two more Twenty20 matches scheduled for the weekend.

Hong Kong Beat Scotland by 109 Runs in First ODI - scotland

ICC World Cricket League Championship: Hong Kong v Scotland
Date: 9:30am, 26, 28 January, 2016
Venue: Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground
Tickets: Free
More info: One Day International, 50 overs a side

T20 International: Hong Kong v Scotland
Date: 1pm, 30-31 January, 2016
Venue: Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground
Tickets: Free

Tian Di Hui @ 2 Anniversary Rock Angel Band House – 23 January, 2016

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Rock Angel Band House celebrated it’s 2nd Anniversary with a concert by Singaporean band Tian Di Hui. Ludmila Puchulú was there to capture all the action
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