Category: January
Match Report: CWB Phoenix 12-5 HKFC Ice @ So Kon Po – 14 January, 2017
Saturday saw a tough, hard fought Women’s Premiership match between HK Football Club Ice and SCAA Causeway Bay Phoenix at So Kon Po, Sarah Shuttleworth reports.
An early injury to Ice’s second row, Angelina Cheung, saw Zuzanna Osinska replace her and she proceeded to make her presence felt in the forward exchanges.
HKFC controlled the early possession in Causeway Bay’s half, causing pressure and displaying impressive scrum and line-out technique. Bobby Wilson made a clean break, after 15 minutes, but a resilient Phoenix defence refused to let Ice score.
Another drive from the HKFC forwards saw full back Jane Cheung sprint clear and run deep into Causeway Bay’s half. A strong try-saving tackle though saw her brought to ground within touching distance of the line.
Causeway Bay Phoenix made their first real scoring opportunity count, as a clean break by their wing Hau Sin Man secured the first try of the match. Hooker Chin Po Po made the conversion, 7-0 at the break.
Causeway Bay started off the second half confidently, looking threatening every time they had the ball. And the pressure paid off, as Hau Sin Man scored her second try extending Phoenix’s lead to 12-0.
Sophie Short came on at number 9 for HKFC, with Royce Chan moved into the front row to replace Denise Chan, and demonstrate some fast game play and exceptional tackles.
The new stringent interpretation of the tackle rules saw both sides have players yellow carded for high tackles.
Persistent foul play close to the line saw Ice awarded a penalty try early in the fourth quarter, a missed conversion left the score at 12-5 and all to play for.
With ten minutes to go, Ice looked dangerous in attack. A great piece of forward play saw Royce Chan drive for the line. Only for the Phoenix defence to hold her up, preventing her from touching down for the equalising score.
The last play of the game saw Ice with one final chance, a scrum 10m from the CWB line, However they couldn’t capitalise on the possession. Final score between two evenly matched teams, 12-5 to CWB Phoenix.
HKFC Ice:
Cheryl Gourley, Shonagh Ryan, Denise Chan, Claire Forster, Angelina Cheung, Claire Hunter, Nina Pirie, Bobby Wilson, Royce Chan, Helen Lee, Emma Shields, Jaime Ho, Jamie Bourk, Maggie Wong, Jane Cheung, Cynthia Luk, Zuzanna Osinska, Sophie Short, Paula Murcia, Rabbit Leung
Causeway Bay Pheonix:
Ho Pui Ki, Tsang Siu Ching, Chin Po Po, Chan Yan Yo, Hau Yan Tina Ho, Kong Yin Ting, Li Man Yi, Tsang Ching Man, Ka Lok Ng, Wong Sze Man, Lam Ka Wai, Kwok Yuk Lin, See Wai June Au, Sin Man Hau, Tsang Yuen Ying, Tze Yan Lam, Ka Ling Martini Ip, Tin Yan Dora Chim, Lau Sin Tung, Siu Man Nga
Tasty Swedish Delights
It might not be obvious to those who think of Sweden solely in the terms of IKEA and meatballs, but there’s a lot more culinary delights to enjoy. So if you’d like to expose your taste buds something new visit SverigeShoppen in Star House where there’s a broad range of Swedish dried goods, sweets, frozen produce and dairy delights.
Among the most popular items in the store are Filmjölk ($34), a type of fermented milk and a breakfast staple in Scandinavia. Anna the shop assistant assured me that pea soup ärtsoppa soldaten ($55) is a traditional staple. Licorice remains very popular and two of the favourites are Gott&Blandat ($26) and Hallon/ Lakritsskallar ($15). Falukorv ($38) is a Swedish sausage made of a grated mixture of smoked pork and beef.
Last but no means least among the most popular items is cheese (ost in Swedish). Västerbotten ($149) is often referred to in Sweden as the ‘Emperor of Cheeses’ and has been made the same way since 1872. It’s a hard aged cow’s milk cheese with a strong aromatic flavour.
SverigeShoppen also has an online store and offer next day home delivery ($55).
In recent years Sweden has become well know locally for its stringent food production controls and it’s organic and natural products. moreorganic is a newly opened sister store to SverigeShoppen, located at 2/F, K11, it stocks a range of organic and natural nordic products including Goodio vegan chocolate and Roomi a dry non-alcoholic premium culinary beverage made from cold pressed Nordic berries.
SverigeShoppen
Unit 1825, 18/F, Star House, TST. Tel: 2312 19192312 1919
www.sverigeshoppe.com
moreorganic
201, 2/F, K11, 18 Hanoi Road, TST
www.moreganicsweden.com
Go Natural @ K11 – 18 January, 2017
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/K11-Go-Natural-18-January/i-797Zr22
Natural is a corner of K11 full of fresh tastes and flavours with a touch of craft thrown in. Take a wander to the 2/F and discover coffee, organic Swedish delights, delicious flower cuisine, hand crafted jewellery, a herb garden and more.
Click here or on any photo for the full gallery of images.
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/K11-Go-Natural-18-January/i-bhw7Z63
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/K11-Go-Natural-18-January/i-SKZ9HfC
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/K11-Go-Natural-18-January/i-zsrq7Bx
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/K11-Go-Natural-18-January/i-PHGdkPV/A
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/K11-Go-Natural-18-January/i-5FpLFhG
Oman Humiliate Hong Kong in the Desert
Hong Kong’s Desert T20 adventure went from bad, conceding 185 against Scotland in their opening match, to humiliating in their second against Oman where their batting and hopes of progressing in the tournament imploded.
The Zayed Cricket Stadium will hold no fond memories, hopefully a change of venue for the final game will see Hong Kong at least competitive. Losing is part of the game, getting thrashed twice is not the best start for an important year for local cricket.
After wining the toss and choosing to bat, Hong Kong were bowled out for 87 with Aizaz Khan (19) top scorer and only two other players Ehsan Khan (10) and Chris Carter (17) reaching double figures.
In response, despite an early wicket to Nadeem Ahmed, Oman reach the target in the 11 overs for the loss of just three wickets.
“It is one of those things that happens every so often,” Simon Cook, the Hong Kong coach, said of the batting implosion.
“We paid the price for playing across the line too much. It was a cascade effect, and 88 is just not defendable.”
Hong Kong Desert T20 Fixtures
18 January: Netherlands v Hong Kong (Dubai International Stadium)
Women’s Rugby Results – 14 January, 2017
Premiership
City Sparkle 0-94 Gai Wu Falcons
@ Happy Valley, Kick-off: 16:30
USRC Tigers 61-10 Kowloon
@ Shek Kip Mei, Kick-off: 16:30
CWB Phoenix 12-5 HKFC Ice
@ So Kon Po, Kick-off: 18:00
National League 1
HKCC 5-10 Tai Po Dragons
@ King’s Park, Kick-off: 16:30
Revolution SRC 19-12 Gai Wu Fawkes
@ Happy Valley, Kick-off: 18:00
USRC Tigers 48-0 HK Scottish
@ Shek Kip Mei, Kick-off: 18:00
National League 2
Gai Wu Hawks 24-10 HKFC Fire
@ Happy Valley, Kick-off: 15:00
Tai Po Dragons 0-10 Police Sirens
@ King’s Park, Kick-off: 18:00
Tin Shui Wai 36-0 Uni-Pirates
@ Tin Shui Wai, Kick-off: 18:00
City 25-5 Kowloon
@ King’s Park, Kick-off: 19:30
Photo: HKRugby
Women’s Premiership Round-up: Gai Wu Thrash City, CWB Beat HKFC and USRC Pound Kowloon
Living up to their promise to avenge last week’s pasting from Gai Wu, SCAA Causeway Bay Phoenix earned a hard fought 12-5 win over fourth-placed HKFC Ice.
The game mattered for both sides and the commitment showed. Through much of the first half, Football Club – missing a number of key players through injury and travel – struggled to gain and keep possession. Good movement from an energised Causeway Bay backline paid off midway through when quick hands out of the ruck fed the ball through to right wing Hau Sin Man who showed sustained speed to score. A solid conversion from hooker Chin Po Po put the home team in control.
Late in the half, Football Club rallied somewhat but couldn’t convert the possession to points, and the 7-0 scoreline stood at the break.
Both sides restarted well but the energy and accuracy of the CWB kept the pressure on Football Club. With around three-quarters of the game played, another win from the ruck brought the result within reach. The ball was quickly distributed through the backs via a deft switch back to the blindside. Another strong run from Hau Sin Man finished the move and saw Phoenix’s into a 12-0 lead.
HKFC looked to respond and the final 15 minutes was easily their strongest period of the game. On the 70 minute mark Ice’s no.8 Mei Nam Chow broke through the line and looked set to score, but an infraction earned her side a penalty try instead, which wasn’t converted, 12-5.
Football Club continued to press, but Phoenix’s defence held firm and the hard-fought game ended with smiles on Causeway Bay faces.
Coach Ocean Chow had no doubt the victory was well earned. “We executed our plan on defence, and built on that. Our scrum was strong today, earning us several turnovers. We have been working on our tackling, and today made a lot of good tackles, keeping low. We played our own style: quick ball and quick out of the ruck without overcommitting.”
Chow credited the win to his players attitude, saying, “they are fit and believe in themselves. They really wanted to win this one, after our record of going close against Football Club.”
HKFC’s long-serving national team forward Royce Chan Leong Sze said, “Causeway Bay were catching us with fast breaks, putting on pressure [that led to points]. We simply didn’t have enough possession to win the game.”
The loss changes the complexion of the rest of the season for Football Club, as their third-place/fourth-place tussle with USRC Tigers, against the two strongest sides in the Premiership, runs the risk of being replaced by a battle to hold on to fourth against a resurgent CWB.
Chan observed, “It’s going to be challenging going into the last four games, up against the top teams, and with us having to cope with a number of injuries. This game gave us notice that we must toughen up and move on.”
The USRC Tigers solidified their hold on third place in the table, ahead of HKFC, pounding Kowloon 61-10.
Kowloon coach Jonathan Ho was nevertheless pleased with his side’s defensive line speed, which he said caused Tigers problems, and led to their two second-half tries.
In the other Women’s Premiership game, Gai Wu Falcons topped last week’s high-scoring win with a rampaging 94-0 victory over bottom club City Sparkle, scoring eight tries in the first half alone and fulfilling coach Lai Yiu Pang’s directive to his players to keep focused on making the most of every opportunity.
Full women’s rugby results here
Additional reporting and photo: HKRugby
Scotland Thrash Hong Kong in Desert T20 Opener
Scotland produced a dominant performance to defeat Hong Kong by 24 runs in the opening match of the Desert T20 tournament in Abu Dhabi.
The Scots powered to 189-3 from their 20 overs, before early wickets torpedoed Hong Kong’s chase before it could get into gear and despite strong resistance from the middle and lower order were restricted to 165-6.
After winning the toss, Scotland raced to 60-0 in seven overs, before Ehsan Khan removed both openers George Munsey (22) and Kyle Coetzer (31). Hong Kong though failed to capitalise on the breakthroughs as a record breaking 127-run partnership from Callum MacLeod (60 off 34 balls) and Richie Berrington (60 off 39 balls) saw Scotland post an imposing target.
A feature of the partnership, Scotland highest ever in T20 internationals was the reverse-sweeping skills and switch hits of MacLeod who hit 4 fours and 3 sixes.
In response, Aizaz Khan was run out without facing a ball and when Babar Hayat (10) picked out the man on the deep mid-wicket boundary Hong Kong were 32-2 in the fifth over.
Nizakat Khan, who hit a monstrous six over cover tried to repeat the effort but was caught at third man for 22 off as many balls.
Hong Kong’s two 19-year-olds Anshuman Rath (29 off 25) and Shahid Wasif (40 off 25 balls) added 41 in four overs, but with the run-rate creeping above 14 it was too big a mountain to climb.
Ehsan Khan’s crisp 42 off 22 balls at the end of the innings restricted the damage to Hong Kong’s net run rate, which could prove crucial in keeping hopes alive of progressing to the finals.
Hong Kong coach Simon Cook said his side were always up against it from the halfway mark.
“We were probably disappointed to be chasing 190 which wasn’t really a par score, it was more a 175 wicket and a very windy day with a big outfield,” Cook said.
“A few lapses with our fielding meant we were chasing too many, although I was pleased with our execution in their power play.” Cook continued “Again with the bat we had two run outs through basic errors and its those sort of things that cost you games.”
“Anshuman continued his good form, Shahid was again impressive and is really consolidating his place in the team and Ehsan Khan at the end hit the ball nicely so there were some positives. We did well in the end to get as close as we did.”
Hong Kong Desert T20 Fixtures
16 January: Oman v Hong Kong (Zayed Cricket Stadium)
18 January: Netherlands v Hong Kong (Dubai International Stadium)
Additional reporting and photos: HK Cricket, Cricinfo