Gai Wu start the new Women’s Premiership season in fine fettle according to Coach Lai Yiu Pang with strong competition for places from many of the women who were playing for the Gai Wu Fawkes in WNL1 last season pressing for spots in the Falcons squad.
The Falcon’s couldn’t have got off to better start against HKFC Ice with Eddie scoring a simple unconverted try in the fourth minute. Ice put together perhaps their best period of play in the match during the first ten minutes and after a prolonged period of pressure Rachel crossed the line to bring the scores level at 5-5 after 10 minutes.
There’s a competitive hardness to Gai Wu and their response to HKFC’s score was immediate. A beautiful side-step by Tina saw her shatter the Ice defence to finish off a flowing move. A couple of minute later and a lovely hand-off by Bernie as she sprints down the left sideline allows Maxson to score the Falcons’ third try, 17-5.
HKFC are creating some small breaks but handling errors and penalties at the breakdown are hampering their attacks. When they can string the phases together Ice look threatening and only some fine last ditch Gai Wu defence just before the halftime hooter prevents HKFC scoring a second try.
Gai Wu though are comfortably controlling the game with some of their young players really impressing before National Coach Jo Hull who was at Happy Valley to watch both games. Jasmine especially catching Hull’s eye as she offered the Falcons real pace and penetration on the outside in only her second season playing rugby.
As the second half gets underway and it’s all Gai Wu as they pound the Ice try line, it’s backs to wall defending from HKFC but eventually the Falcons forwards get a maul together and force their way over the line as Joyce Kam-chi Chui touches down for a fourth try, 22-5. From the kick-off the Falcons are back on the attack stringing the phases together and Maxson soon touches down for her second try of the afternoon, 27-5.
The two quick tries see HKFC visible wilt, the game is gone and there’s a lot of time in the half left. Megan tries to lift Ice with a strong run from inside her 22. As she’s tackled by CKY her flailing arm punches the Gai Wu player on the temple who crumples under the blow. It looked completely accidental and thankfully after some treatment a dazed CKY sporting a golf ball sized shiner walks groggily from the field.
The injury break combined with the heat and humidity has sapped the intensity from the game and with their scrum in total control the only question is how many points do Gai Wu want to score. Rachel Prolas almost has her first try of the game but is stopped just short of the line by some resolute tackling.
Ice’s new coach Royce Chan Leong Sze, fresh from her Rugby World Cup experience is champing to get on the pitch to help her team, wrings the changes as her charges melt under the Gai Wu pressure which see Shun Lee burst free to score the Falcons sixth try, 32-5.
The changes work and bring a bit of solidity back to the HKFC’s defence as they make a few mini breaks to prevent Gai Wu, who don’t help themselves with a few spilled passes, from spending the remainder of the match camped inside Football Club’s 22.
Coach Lai uses the final quarter to give game time to several of the emerging Fawkes players. There’s an impressive camaraderie and desire among the Gai Wu players with everyone pushing each other to succeed and do well. The club’s ability to continually unearth new talent bodes well for the future of the local game and the national team. Talking to the players on the sideline during and after the match there’s a unified desire for the new season – Beat Valley!
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Gai-Wu-Falcons-v-HKFC-Ice-Happy-Valley-23-September-2017/i-mGHJZPw