For long periods of this match it looked as though Valley Black’s long unbeaten run stretching back almost four seasons was in peril. Gai Wu were aggressive, attacking and full of creative plays. The Falcons though couldn’t turn pressure in points and the deep pool of talent that is the current Black squad made their chances count and then added icing and a cherry on top to cap their fine performance as Gai Wu tired in the final quarter to win 32-5.
Valley spent much of the early part of the game defending deep in their own 22, as Gai Wu started hard and fast and looked to knock the Blacks from their comfort zone. An early attacking scrum on Valley’s 5m line sees the Falcons forwards stand strong, Wai Sum Sham senses an opening but takes her eye of the ball as she picks it up to look for the space and the knock on ends a promising attack.
Aroha Savage drives forward looking to create some breathing room for the Blacks, the Falcons defence is tight and Valley are forced to kick clear. Gai Wu don’t deal with the kick and Colleen Tjsvold picks up and looks to punish the Falcons for their sloppiness. A penalty ensues and with the game still scoreless Valley opt for the kick. Zoe Smith’s attempt hits the post and momentarily there is panic in the Gai Wu defence as the loose ball bounces around.
The Falcons are having trouble clearing their lines as Valley attack, but their defence is solid in the face of multiple attacks. Gai Wu eventually steal the ball and their forwards drive the Blacks back to halfway. Valley looking to respond knock-on and suddenly Greer Muir is free and making a powerful run down the far touchline. The Blacks backline have pace to burn and a fine tackle prevents the first points of the game.
Bella Milo drives Valley forward and Smith kicks deep, but Valley can’t claim the ball and Gai Wu are back on the attack. It’s fast and furious with strong tackles flying in all over the pitch as the Falcons push Valley back again.
Savage collects the ball and rampages forward through the Gai Wu defence and then produces a little piece of magic with a delightful behind her back pass to set Milo free who scores the first points of the game on 26 minutes with a try in the corner, 5-0.
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A lovely restart from Gai Wu sees the ball caught at full pace, she looks to break through and reply instantly but Smith is alert and a fine tackle saves 5 points. Gai Wu continue to press but Valley respond and the ball reaches Jessica Eden on the wing who breaks a tackle and heads for the corner. A strong Gai Wu tackle looks to have saved the try, but Eden’s strong second effort sees her over the line, 10-0 after 35 minutes.
Gai Wu looking to get some reward for their strong first half play, attack again and Valley can’t contain them. A strong Falcons scrum, gives the backline good possession and it’s spread wide, Muir running a lovely reverse line powers through to score, 10-5.
A cracking first half of high intensity rugby ends with the Valley ahead 10-5 courtesy of a sublime piece of skill from Savage.
The Falcons start the second period working hard to get on even terms and Valley again struggle to get the ball clear in the face of constant pressure. Savage makes another powerful run up the middle to turn defence into attack. Milo continues the attack and Valley are inside the Gai Wu looking to exploit a developing overlap… Chow Mei Nam has other ideas and steals the ball. Breaking out she passes to Muir and it’s a footrace the length of the field. Smith is chasing hard and hauls Muir down inches from the line to the despair of the watching Gai Wu fans.
Gai Wu continue to press, Rebecca Thompson steals the ball and Valley kick it deep. From the resulting scrum Savage picks up and Milo breaks, Smith is free but strong defence ensures the ball doesn’t reach her. Valley recycle and before the Falcons defence is set Milo is through for her second try of the game after 55 minutes, 15-5.
The Falcons are quickly back on the attack and develop a nice overlap with open field beyond, Kelsie Bouttle though makes a fine interception on halfway and runs unopposed to score under the posts and seal the game for Valley. Smith makes an amazing conversion, her kick hitting the right upright, rebounding across to hit the left post before dropping over the bar, 22-5.
Chasing the game Gai Wu look for a quick response, Smith though kicks the ball into space and Savage is the first to react and she scores Valley’s fifth try in the corner, 27-5 after 60 minutes.
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Thompson makes some impressive pressure releasing breaks as Gai Wu continue to attack. Needing points, and perhaps feeling the effects of such an intense game, their defence isn’t as tight as earlier in the match. A clearing kick is caught and returned by Smith before she’s well tackled.
Sharon Tsang makes a strong break for the Falcons but is hauled down on halfway. Valley recover the ball and Thompson with another strong run finishes off a fine counter attack with her first try of the game in the corner on 71 minutes, 32-5.
A fine game of rugby ends with Gai Wu on the attack. The scoreboard doesn’t reflect the closeness of the game. Valley’s strong bench and pure backline pace were too much for a fine Gai Wu side – but it was Aroha Savage’s lovely pass which swung the game to ensure the Black’s unbeaten run continues.
Gai Wu
Lee Ka Shun 李嘉萱, Lam Ka Wai 林嘉慧, Lau Nga Wun 劉雅媛, Sharon Tsang 曾善恩, Chow Mei Nam 鄒美楠, Ching Tze Yung 程子容, Yip Hiu Ki 葉曉琪, Chan Ka Yan 陳嘉欣, Shum Wai Sum 岑惠心, Lee Tze Ting 李紫婷, Chong Ka Yan 莊嘉欣, Ho Hoi Lam 何凱琳, Greer Muir, Chiu Wing See 趙穎思, Chui Kam Chi 徐金枝
Reserve: Lee Wing Yan 李穎欣, Li Tsz Tung Vicky 李芷彤, Man Yuen Yan 文琬茵, Wong Suet Ying 王雪盈, Li Wai Ying 李慧盈, Cheng Tze Ting 鄭芷婷, Abigail Chan 陳柏鈴
Try: Greer Muir
Valley Black
Wing Yan Leung, Li Lai Mang, Becky, Akanisi Au Yeung, Ching To Cheng, Deena Ravi Thinakaran, Riva Brill, Amelie Seure, Aroha Savage, Colleen Tjosvold, Bella Milo, Tanya Young, Kelsie Bouttle, Jessica Eden, Stephanie Cuvelier, Zoë Smith
Reserve: Jasmine Cheung, Karen So, Caitlin Spencer, Jade Birkby, Laurel Chor, Nadia Cuvelier, Rebecca Thompson
Tries: Bella Milo (2), Rebecca Thompson, Kelsie Bouttle, Aroha Savage
Conversion: Zoe Smith
今場賽事十分緊湊,法興銀行華利女子欖球會(華利)的四季不敗形勢似有威脅。雞糊鷹隊(雞糊)非常進取,積極進攻,再加上新的戰術,令賽事精彩萬分。可惜華利實力實在太強,雞糊始終不敵,賽果32比5。
一開場,賽事都在華利的22米內,可惜岑惠心一不留神,沒把球穩妥接住,錯失達陣機會。
Aroha Savage全速進攻,加上雞糊接球失誤,華利得了一個罰踢機會,可惜Zoe Smith並沒有成功踢入。
雞糊雖然進攻不利,但防守非常緊密。Greer Muir本有一個入球機會,可惜給攔截到。
Bella Milo 和 Smith 合作進攻,但雞糊迅速返工,令華利無功而回。
Savage帶波衝出重圍,再傳球給Milo達陣,賽事26分鐘,5比0。
雞糊迅速反攻,可惜Jessica Eden在邊線前達陣,賽事35分鐘,10比0。
雞糊繼續反攻,在爭球區加強壓力,再把球遠傳給Muir達陣,10比5。
上半場賽事十分緊張緊湊,兩隊旗鼓相當,爭持在10比5的分數內。
下半場,雞糊努力反敗為勝,可惜再被Savage衝出叢圍,將防守轉為攻擊。鄒美楠偷球成功,傳球到Muir,直奔底線,可惜在最後關頭給Smith攔截到。
雞糊繼繼續施壓,但被Rebecca Thompson攔截到,再由Savage 和 Milo聯手進攻,做出第二球入球,15比5。
其後Kelsie Bouttle偷波成功,直衝底線,再由Smith踢入,22比5。
比賽60分鐘,雞糊採取快攻,但Smith奪球並踢給Savage作出華利今天的第五個入球,27比5。
雞糊努力防守和反攻,但還是不敵華利的攻勢。雖然曾善恩曾有一個入球機會,可惜還是被華利攔截到,並由Thompson 在邊角達陣, 32比5。
完場時雞糊仍在努力攻擊,成績不可反映真實的賽況。今場華利的勝利,功勞歸於Aroha Savage的傳球,令華利不敗的故事延續。