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Match Report: HKFC Ice 39-17 City Sparkles @ HK Football Club – 8 October, 2016

On a beautiful evening at the HK Football Club, HKFC Ice’s first match of the 2016-17 season was against City Sparkles newly promoted from National League One and looking to prove themselves in the Premiership.

The game kicked off and Ice dominated the early possession, camped constantly in City’s half HKFC created several try scoring opportunities in the first ten minutes but couldn’t cross the line to register the game’s first score. City looked threatening at times with their kicking skills and solid teamwork and certainly showed they are worthy Premiership opponents, their defence and tenacity particularly impressive. In attack the Sparkles put together some solid passages of play and Ice had to defend well to keep them from scoring.

The first 20 minutes saw some impressive tackles and line breaks from the Ice forwards, with Megan Richardson and Bobby Wilson driving the team forward to secure HKFC’s opening try in the 22nd minute. Rosie Hopewell-Fong’s conversion deflecting off the post prevented Ice from adding the extra two.

Backed by the cheering home crowd, Ice looked dangerous in attack and a great piece of skill from Jane Cheung saw her make a clean break to rampage deep into the opposition’s 22.

City’s sparkling attack broke through Ice’s defence in the 33rd minute to record their first Premiership try, secured with a conversion. Sparked into life Ice retaliated with an amazing break from by Rosie Hopewell-Fong, who sprinted 50m after a beautiful chip only to be fouled just short of the try line in the 40th minute. The resultant yellow card for City’s number 3 saw her spend 10 minutes in the bin and Ice’s Iris Chan took full advantage scoring in the corner with a successful conversion from Rosie Hopewell-Fong. Half-time 12-7.

After the break, HKFC set out to take control of the game and Jamie Bourk quickly scored a try, successfully converted by Rosie Hopewell-Fong.

Cheryl Gourley and Zuzanna Osinska came on in the forward line for HKFC and their impact was felt immediately with another try to Ice’s Angelina Cheung which was quickly followed by a second for the enthusiastic Jamie Bourk who controlled the ball with ease to own yet another try.

Further substitutions for HKFC saw Hei Hei Wong on for Crystal Wray on the wing, with Denise Chan, Shonagh Ryan and Stephanie Siu replaced by Royce Chan, Doris Chen and Rabbit Leung. City scored a simple try to going into the last 20 minutes to give them hope of a come-back. Rosie Hopewell-Fong quickly doused that flicker with her first try of the game after some fine individual skill.

Ice’s Megan Richardson was yellow carded in the 67th minute for a high tackle and City took advantage to score their third try with ten minutes to go and close the gap on the scoreboard.

Claire Hunter came off for Cynthia Luk at flanker and Jane Cheung added the icing to a fine display with Ice’s seventh try two minutes from the end.

HKFC controlled much of a game which saw some exciting play from both teams. City competed well in their first game in the top tier and can take many positives from the game. Final score 39-17.

HKFC Ice:
Denise Chan, Shonagh Ryan, Megan Richardson, Angelina Cheung, Iris Chan, Claire Hunter, Nina Pirie, Bobby Wilson, (Captain), Sophie Short, Rose Hopewell-Fong, Jane Cheung, Stephanie Siu, Jamie Bourk, Crystal Wray, Helen Lee.
Substitutes: Doris Chen, Cheryl Gourley, Zuzanna Osinska, Royce Chan, Cynthia Luk, Henrietta Wong, Hei Hei Wong and Rabbit Leung.

Tries: Angelina Cheung, Iris Chan, Jamie Bourk (2), Jane Cheung, Bobby Wilson, Rosie Hopewell-Fong.
Conversions: Rosie Hopewell-Fong (2)

City Sparkles:
Pui Yan Lam, Suen Yan Tiffany Leung, Ka Yan Fung, Lee Wa Wong, Chun Yi Annie Ng (Vice Captain), Pui Yin Yau (Captain), Kar Man Hilary Tse, Lok Lam Joanna Hung, Tsz Wing Donis Fung, Sau Yu Lam, Man King Cheng, Yuk Yan Ng, Oi Ying Stephanie Tang, Hoi Ying Cheung, Agnes Tse
Substitutes: Lai Lai Wong, Tin Yee Cheung, Cheng Wai Yee, Mila Hiu Lam Pang, Tsz Ying YoYo Lau, Yee Sum Lee and Yu Nam Suet.

Brunch on the Terrace

Sunday brunch on the terrace, what’s not to like? This month The Envoy at The Pottinger Hotel in Central launched a new Sunday Brunch menu featuring a range of dishes designed to complement their delicious crafted cocktail menu.

The brunch dishes are solid, but the range of choices is very traditional. bc tried the eggs benedict (available with creamy spinach; parma ham and mushroom or smoked salmon and avocado) $188, traditional breakfast $178 and the milo lava toast $88. All were well presented and enjoyable, but nothing to have you tweeting, get here and try this… unlike the cocktails which are rather good.

And really you are here to relax,chat and enjoy the fine crafted cocktails created by Charlene Dawes and Antonio Lai – the duo behind the drinks menus at Quinary and Origin. There are over 25 to choose from and there’s quite literally something for everyone. Many of the most interesting feature twists on local dishes and ingredients and flavours range from sweet to sour and everywhere in between. Almost all are served in unique or interesting glasses and clever, but not extraneous garnishing is the rule of the day.

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What’s good about the current crafted cocktails trend is that they’re drinks designed primarily to be enjoyed – not to get you drunk. This allows for the tasting and enjoyment of several, where the only pain will be on your wallet as they not cheap costing between $128-$188.

There are lots of relaxed places to enjoy sunday brunch, The Envoy’s terrace with the sun out, cocktail in hand is certainly one to add to your list of options.

The Envoy: 3/F, The Pottinger Hotel, 74 Queen’s Road, Central
Tel: 2169 3311, Open: noon-1am www.theenvoy.hk

Match Report: Hong Kong 2-0 Singapore @ Mongkok – 11 October, 2016

https://youtu.be/81T_BzqUMb0

Hong Kong beat Singapore 2-0 in an international friendly at Mong Kok Stadium. Alex Akande got the hosts on their way with a clinical strike four minutes before the break. A powerful drive from Huang Yang in the 70th minute to put the result beyond doubt.

Irfan Fandi, the eldest son of Singapore legend Fandi Ahmad, made his debut as the visitors showed plenty of energy and initiative in the opening exchanges. However, the home team gradually forced their way into the contest. In the 33rd minute, catching the defence napping, Sandro threaded a neat through-pass to Akande. But Lions’ keeper Izwan Mahbud was alert to the danger, and raced off his line to deny the Kitchee striker.

Hong Kong broke the deadlock eight minutes later when Lam Ka Wai lofted the ball between two Singaporean defenders and into the path of Akande who did well to control the bouncing ball before coolly firing into the far corner.

Buoyed at taking the lead, and with the majority of the 4,136 fans cheering them on, the hosts looked the likelier of the two sides to score after the break. Singapore did have an opportunity to equalise in the 69th minute when the lively Iqbal Hussain latched onto Shakir Hamzah’s cross only to blast wide of the near post.

A minute later and Hong Kong scored their second. Roberto’s floated pass was nodded down by Jaimes McKee to Akande, who turned provider by laying the ball off for Huang to drill an unstoppable effort past Izwan.

Deep into injury-time, Singapore had a chance to pull a goal back as Iqbal forced Yapp into a flying reflex save that denied the Lions an opportunity to salvage some pride with a consolation goal.

Hong Kong:
Yapp Hung Fai, Cheng King Ho, Festus Baise (Andy Russell 65′), Helio, Lee Hong Lim (Leung Chun Pong 78′), Huang Yang (Lo Kwan Yee 87′), Lam Ka Wai (Jaimes McKee 65′), Sandro (Wong Wai 77′), Xu Deshuai (Roberto 65′), Godfred Karikari, Alex Akande
Scorers: Alex Akande (41′), Huang Yang (70′)

Singapore:
Izwan Mahbud, Madhu Mohana (Faris Ramli 80′), Baihakki Khaizan (Fahrudin Mustafic 58′), Daniel Bennett, Shakir Hamzah, Iqbal Hussain, M. Anumanthan, Hariss Harun (Izzdin Shafiq 64′), Gabriel Quak (Shawal Anuar 77′), Irfan Fandi (Faritz Hameed 59′), Khairul Amri (Yasir Hanapi 78′)

Additional reporting: Agencies

Blair Reeve: Author and Peel Street Poet

New Zealander Blair Reeve has been writing and performing a rhythmic and comical style of performance poetry since 1995. He spent the first seven years of the new millennium teaching English in Japanese junior high schools before moving to Hong Kong where he continued to teach phonics to primary students until 2013. He graduated from Massey University (NZ) in 2012 after studying Japanese and English Literature and then turned his attention to more sustained creative writing by joining the City University of Hong Kong’s Masters in Fine Arts program. He completed this in 2014, and one year later published his first children’s book Hogart The Hedgehog Turns Nink. In September 2016 he published his second book for young readers, Greta von Gerbil & Her Really Large Lexicon. Currently he works from home, caring for his infant daughter and mentoring post-grad students at Chinese U for their portfolios in creative writing. He was a feature author in the Hong Kong Young Readers’ Literary Festival in March 2016 and will be performing at the upcoming TEDxWanChai event on October 29.

How long have you been involved in poetry?
I’ve been involved in poetry since I was a kid in the 70s. First as a reader of comic verse—things like Spike Milligan, limericks & nonsense verse. In high school I really took to analyzing poetry, but I didn’t start writing until I was about 20. I was a pretender of anguished verse, which came from being one of those dyed-in-the-wool Cure fans. I then took up writing poetry as something to be read aloud and performed. This transition from pretender to writer/performer happened around 1996.

What inspires you to write?
My inspiration comes entirely from other poets and poetry. When I see writing I like it makes me want to write better. Hence my early poems were all like bad Goth lyrics. Then I was inspired by other performer-poets during my Dunedin days of the 90s and some of the old Victorian stuff I read at that time, especially Gerard Manly Hopkins who had a really playful word thing going on. Dr. Seuss continues to be an inspiration when I read to my daughter and that led me to wanting to write comical anapestic rhyming verse. This is so much fun I’m sticking with it for the time being.

How does Hong Kong influence your writing?
Hong Kong influences my writing in an indirect way. My social scene is miscellaneous and so it frees me to be as experimental as I like. It also means the cultural inputs into my writing are diverse, and I like that. I like that my poetry is informed by so many different perspectives. But my writing tends to be interior and imaginative rather than worldly, and in that sense, Hong Kong as a direct subject has yet to make it into my writing.

Here’s an extract from Blair’s new children’s book.

Flaytoo the Friendly Mayfly (extract)
Said Phlooty the Mayfly to Flaytoo his boy,
“You’re four hours old now, you’ve played with that toy
since the moment your mother gave birth to you son.
You’ve only got twenty more hours to have fun,
so don’t hesitate, Flayt, get out in the sun.”

“We’re fish food, young chap, and that’s perfectly fine.
I’ve nothing against fish who do need to dine,
but there’s no need to hurry yourself to their plate.
Your time here is precious. Their stomachs can wait.
So listen up kiddo, go fly to the ends
of the field and make lots of new wonderful friends.
Because mayflies like us—we don’t live very long.
We’ve only one day till the end of our song.”

Then Phlooty the Mayfly unflicked his four wings,
and left Flaytoo flying alone without strings.

“Say what?” exclaimed Flaytoo, “I’ve only one day?
That barely leaves time for a Mayfly to play!
Well I certainly mustn’tly waste my time ruing
those four hours gone when I ought to be doing
what Phlooty suggested—travelling and seeing
how other flies spend their lives living and being.”

Peel Street Poetry is an open mic poetry night at Orange Peel. It runs every Wednesday of the month except the first. The environment is friendly and they love new performers, so come share your poetry or just listen along to some of Hong Kong’s sharpest poetic talents.

Peel Street Poetry Open Mic
Date: 2nd, 3rd, 4th (and 5th) Wednesdays of the month
Venue: Orange Peel
Tickets: Free
More info:
www.peelstreetpoetry.com

Edited: 1 November 2016 – extract amended, last line was missing

Thailand beat Hong Kong by 17 Runs

Thailand remain the only unbeaten team at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup – Asia Qualifiers after a 17-run victory over hosts Hong Kong at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Thailand struggled loosing four wickets in the first seven overs with just 17 runs on the board. Hong Kong Captain Mariko Hill took two of the wickets and off spinner Ka-Man Chan bowled a superb three maiden spell and took a wicket.

Thailand’s Captain Sornnarin Tippocj and Naruemol Chaiwai strong 63-run fifth wicket partnership, the best in the tournament so far, pushed the total to 90 for 6 after 20 overs.

Hong Kong’s chase started poorly with the first four wickets falling within nine overs, and none of the top order batters reaching double figures. As in their first two games Hong Kong failed to effectively rotate the strike and keep the scoreboard ticking over and this time it cost them.

Keenu Gill provided some hope for Hong Kong, scoring 19 runs, and Chloe Ip contributed 14 runs.

Thailand’s Medium Pace Bowler Chanida Sutthiruang took 3/13 with one maiden. Sornnarin Tippocj was named Player of the Match for the second time in the tournament.

“I thought our opening bowlers did really well, but in the middle we struggled a bit,” said Hong Kong Captain Mariko Hill after the match. “I thought we started off really well. There were lots of positive intent, but at the same time we were making the same mistakes. We need that one solid batsman from the top five to stay until the 19th over to see off the innings, but that never really happened today,” said Hill.

Match Summary
Thailand 90/6 (20 overs)
Hong Kong 73/8 (20 overs)
Thailand won by 17 runs
Scorecard: www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1059674

Points Table after first round of matches

Additional reporting and images: HK Cricket Association

Match Report: HK Scottish Kukris 37-15 Valley Red @ Shek Kip Mei – 8 October, 2016

After a disappointing opening game to the season against Gai Wu, when the Kukris failed to score, the HK Scottish players were understandably nervous ahead of the match against Valley Red. But a vocal home crowd proved to be just the encouragement they needed. The Kukris quickly settled, put Valley under sustained pressure, and it wasn’t long before Ket Robinson went over in the corner. Karis Cheng was unlucky with the conversion, which bounced off the upright. Before Valley could respond, Kukris had scored again through Fung Yuen-ting and Hui Man-ling, making it three tries in the spate of seven minutes. Again the conversions were unsuccessful. The pressure on Valley’s try line continued, but they managed to secure the ball and kick up pitch. Hui Man-ling caught the ball, accelerated away and scored in the opposite corner. No conversion. Half-time score 20-0 to HK Scottish Kukris.

The second half continued in the same vein. Nieve Heskin, one of the Kukris’ new players from Chicago, exploited a gap and scored under the posts. Karis Cheng made no mistake with the conversion. But Valley responded well, swiftly moving down the field and scoring, 27-5. Any thoughts of a comeback were quickly extinguished, as Crystal Lee, who had an excellent day on the pitch, powered over the line for a classic forwards’ try. But shortly after, as Valley again sought to break out of their own 22, fullback Ket Robinson was deemed to have tip tackled the ball carrier and shown a yellow card. Before Valley could make use of their numerical advantage, Kukris regained possession and passed to Hui Man-ling, who completed her hat-trick in the corner. But by now Kukris were looking ragged, and conceding penalties. Valley regrouped and swiftly scored two unconverted tries, but ran out of time to add to the score. Final score 37-15 to HKS Kukris.

Overall a great game for HKS Kukris, who, with the exception of the last ten minutes will be pleased with the performance. Next week the Kukris play Tai Po Dragons at KGV.

HK Scottish Kukris
Neon Chau, Po-Ki Chan, Tung-Hoi Jim, Crystal Lee Oi-Yan, Emily So, Myron Ng, Nieve Heskin, Kathy Yip, Karis Cheng, Hau-Yi Chung, Yuen-Ting Fung, Andie Ma, Ket Robinson, Man-Ling Hui, Lo-Ho Yau.
Substitutes: Yumi Fan Sau-Yi, Tiffany Tse, Nicola Yau

Tries: Man-Ling Hui (3), Crystal Lee Oi-Yan, Nieve Heskin, Yuen-Ting Fung, Ket Robinson
Conversions: Karis Cheng

Yellowing

The Umbrella Movement happened over two years ago when tens of thousands took to the streets of Hong Kong in a fight for democracy. Yellowing is a documentary that sheds light on the nameless, ordinary young people whose massed peaceful protest stunned the world.

The film is composed of 20 memorandums, each recording a different aspect of the movement, more of daily chores, that in the most realistic respect, made this seemingly unrealistic defiance possible. Where there is discord, may we bring harmony; and where there is despair, may we bring hope.
Director: Chan Tze Woon

Yellowing
Director: Chan Tze Woon
When: 15, 22, 29 October, 2016
Where: HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity, Multi-Media Theatre
Tickets: $70 from Urbtix
More info:
In Cantonese with Chinese & English subtitles

Match Report: Women Premiership Round 2 – 8 October, 2016

Hong Kong’s sevens squad players returned to domestic action in the second round of the Women’s Premiership which saw Valley Black and Gai Wu Falcons register convincing wins over Kowloon and CWB Phoenix. The two top clubs in the local women’s game continued their impressive form of the opening Saturday with Valley’s 56-0 win over Kowloon equalling Gai Wu’s margin over the same opponents the previous weekend, while Gai Wu beat CWB Phoenix 31-0.

Gai Wu’s coach Lai commented after the game “Causeway Bay were really competitive in the first half, they put us under a lot of pressure in both defence and attack. Their attitude was positive and they got right on to us. I thought we took a long time to get on top of things but then we got a bit of confidence in the final quarter.” Lai added “We can take a lot of positives from the game but we made a lot of errors in basic skills too, which we’ll need to address for the next game.”

Despite the loss CWB Phoenix coach Ocean Chow was confident. “I was very pleased with our performance. This game built our team spirit and I think the players enjoyed the game.”

Causeway Bay got off to a torrid start putting the Falcons under significant pressure right up to the final quarter when the Falcons returning Hong Kong sevens players put some gloss on the scoreboard.

At half-time Phoenix trailed by only two tries, missing several chances to get on the board themselves.

“Gai Wu scored two tries in the first half while we had a very good chance that we did not take. In the second half, it was the same story as last week: not enough fitness, so our performance is not yet stable,” said Chow.

Chow was pleased with the efforts of his forwards “Our scrum was stronger than previously – we were probably 50:50 against Gai Wu [in this area] and our driving was also good, but it was not enough.”

In the days other Premiership game HKFC Ice got their campaign off to a solid start with a win over a battling City XV, 39-17.

Additional reporting and image: HKRU