The Women’s Premiership is split into two four-team leagues for the second half of the season, league champions Valley Black had to work hard to overcome their perennial challengers Gai Wu Falcons, 21-14.
USRC Tigers secured top spot in the new mini Women’s Premiership with a 48-5 victory over HKFC Ice. Kowloon Ladies maintained their recent strong form, and head up the new Women’s Premiership Development after a 41-15 win over SCAA Causeway Bay. While Tai Po Dragons took out their game against City Sparkle, 15-5.
The absence of key players on both sides offered a chance for depth and team character to shine. Valley began with an impressive display of consistency and pressure as they camped on Falcons’ 22 through much of the first half, winning scrums and turnovers to keep the ball and control the game. As in their previous encounter this season, it was player-coach Bella Milo who scored the first try, seizing on a kick through to put down on the left-hand side after 15 minutes. Zoe Smith’s successful converted from close to the sideline 7-0.
Gai Wu’s recently signed New Zealander Greer Muir broke through the Valley siege for the Falcons first score, fending off a number of defenders on a 70-metre run to the line, to set up a score-leveling conversion by Lee Tsz Ting, 7-7.
Valley’s pressure secured a second try on the half-hour when a cross-field kick from teenager Kelsie Boutle was deftly kept from going out of play by Stefanie Cuvelier, allowing Jade Birkby to pick up and go over. 12-7 scoreline was how it stood at half time.
Gai Wu started the second half on the attack controlling the pace of the game for long periods. But a series of unforced errors meant that multiple solid approaches to the Valley line ended pointless.
At the other end, a resolute Gai Wu defence successfully defended its line but was undone on 53 minutes when a Valley penalty 30 metres out was impressively converted by Smith to post the first points of the half.
Ten minutes later, Gai Wu’s fightback bore fruit as Pun Wai Yan managed to break the Valley line and elegantly shimmy her way through to score just left of the posts. With Lee’s conversion, it was a one-point game – 15-14.
Gai Wu’s chance of victory ended in the closing minutes when Valley opted to kick for goal from two further penalties, which Smith converted.
Milo was pleased with her team’s first-half performance but saw the weaknesses that allowed Gai Wu to come on strong in the second half.
“We started well, unlike last game. We kept hold of the ball and didn’t make too many mistakes, and that enabled us to maintain the pressure. Once again, our front five put their hands up and showed their commitment to the team. But we didn’t hunt at the breakdown enough, leaving Gai Wu space to play a lot of fast ball that we couldn’t defend. Then our own line speed was not good enough, which allowed them to press us,” she said.
Milo highlighted the way the team reacted when the game was in danger of slipping away. “Obviously it was a tight game. Their defensive policy was good and that forced us to adjust the way we played. We had to be a little bit smarter, taking the points when there was an opportunity,” she explained.
Milo had lavish praise for her kicker Smith and was also pleased with debutant starter and scorer Birkby. “Zoe was on point tonight with her kicking, just when we needed it, and I thought Jade carried well and chased well throughout the game, as well as taking the try,” she said.
For Gai Wu coach Lai Yiu Pang, giving Valley their toughest game of the season was not enough. “In the second half, we had momentum but made silly mistakes and couldn’t capitalise on it. We controlled the rhythm but our execution was poor, making unforced errors in the final third,” he said.
“If we set a higher standard for ourselves we could definitely have won this game. It’s down to us how much we want to win. It’s the same against Tigers and Football Club – when we really want it, we can beat them, but if we’re not all there, they will take us down.”
Lai credited his bench players with making the game as tight as it was. “Pun Wai Yan and Lam Ka Wai both did well when they came on for the second half. They were determined and provided the impact we needed. But we can’t rely on just them. Everyone has to show that same spirit,” he said.
Ultimately, Lai rued the penalties given away, without which his team might have secured Valley’s first defeat in three seasons. “They deserved the win because they capitalised on our mistakes,” he concluded.
Valley Black
Wing Yan Leung, Li Lai Mang, Becky, Jasmine Cheung, Ching To Cheng, Deena Ravi Thinakaran, Caitlin Spencer, Riva Brill, Bella Milo, Colleen Tjosvold, Kelsie Bouttle, Tanya Young, Jade Birkby, Jessica Eden, Stephanie Cuvelier, Zoë Smith
Reserve: Akanisi Au Yeung, Wing Suet Rachael Wong, Adrienne Davis, Amelie Seure, Laurel Chor, Nadia Cuvilier, Shan Shan Sandra Pong
Try: Bella Milo, Jade Birkby
Conversion: Zoe Smith
Penalty: Zoe Smith (3)
Gai Wu Falcons
Cherry Ng Ki Sum Ball, Hoi Lam Ho, Nga Wun Lau, Sharon Shin Yuen Tsang, Yee Ching Chan, Yuen Yan Man, Hiu Ki Yip, Ka Yan Chan, Suet Ying Wong, Tsz Ting Lee, Kayan Chong, Greer Muir, Tsz Ting Cheng, Kam Chi Chui, Abigail Chan
Reserve: Hoi Ying Ku, Ka Wai Lam, Debby, Wai Yan Pun, Lum Ching, Tsz Yung Ching, Wai Sum Sham, Wing See Chiu
Try: Greer Muir, Pun Wai Yan
Conversion: Lee Tsz Ting (2)
Additional reporting and image: hkru