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。

In a game dominated for long periods by City Sparkle, HKFC Ice had that little bit extra to beat a determined City Sparkle 31-12 under the lights of the Hong Kong Football Club.

It was all City for the first 30 minutes, the Sparkle spending all bar a few moments of it camped inside the Ice 22. HKFC creaked and groaned, bent and buckled and such was the pressure that Martha Webber received a yellow card after just 8 minutes.

Twice City thought they’d scored, but the ball was held up and the Sparkle couldn’t ignite anything from the resulting scrums. Sport can fickle and with their miniscule amount of possession Ice recycled the ball inside their own 22 worked it wide to an overlapping Bernadette Bray and the fullback was away sprinting 70m to score under the posts massively against the run of play. Rachel Fong converted 7-0 after 16 minutes.

The Sparkle resumed their assault on the Ice line looking for an instant reply with Hoi Ying Cheung making a lovely run down the wing. Only to be tackled into touch inches from the line.

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HKFC finally start to enjoy some possession as the half draws to a close and string a few phases of play together working the ball back and forth across the pitch. City stand firm, but a smart piece of play sees Jaime Yuen Wing Ho loop around outside her winger to create the overlap and she scores in the corner, 12-0 after 37 minutes.

City send the kick-off deep and Ice spread the ball left only to meet a solid Sparkle tackle, a quick recycle and swift hands along the line and Webber is away and she outruns a despairing defence to score under the posts. Fong’s conversion brings the half to a close with HKFC Ice leading 19-0 and City wondering how exactly how they’re down three tries after playing well and dominating for most of the first period.

After some strong words at half-time HKFC look to start the second half on the front foot. City’s defence though stands firm, but as they look to clear Ice steal the ball and Mavis almost scores but she can’t offload and the chance goes begging. The Sparkle are spending a lot of time defending and are unable to get out of their own 22 and relieve the pressure. Ice working hard, looking for a fourth try.

A deep City clearing kick looks to give HKFC another attacking oppourtunity but having drawn in the Sparkle defence the Ice backline looks to take advantage of a three on one overlap only for a crunching tackle from Tsz Wing Donis Fung to shut down the attack.

Ice overthrow a lineout and City string some attacking phases together as they look for a way back into the match. A long pass gives Mila Hiu Lam Pang a chance to run but strong backline defence from Ice keeps her out. A City scrum on the HKFC 22 holds and Agnes Tse breaks three tackles to score under the posts, and then she converts her own try, 19-7 after 62 minutes.

From the resulting kick-off Ice recover the ball and launch a sweeping attack keeping the ball through multiple phases of play, City are tiring but still tackling hard. Ice recycle well and spread the ball wide for Shonagh Ryan to sprint down the line and score, 24-7.

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Webber looks to pile on the pressure as she powers her way through several tackles but City finally haul her down and launch an attack of their own only for a fine tackle by Pang to deny City a second score. Sparkle recycle the ball and work it wide where Hoi Ying Cheung scores in the corner on 73 minutes, 24-12.

City kick off deep looking to score again quickly and give HKFC a nervous last few minutes. Ice knock on, but City can’t take advantage. It’s Football Club though who have the final word as Heidi Johnson breaks three Sparkle tackles and spreads the ball wide to Crystal Wray who finishes off a flowing move in style, Helen Lee converts, 31-12 after 79 minutes. And Ice almost add another but Shu Wan Au’s fine tackle keeps the final score at 31-12.

City Sparkle
符詩宇 Fu Sze Yu, 張天兒 Cheung Tin Yee, 林珮恩 Lam Pui Yan, 李綺芯 Lee Yee Sum, 吳筱菁 Wu Hsiao Ching, 謝嘉汶 Tse Kar Man Hilary, 丘佩燕 Yau Pui Yin, 吳雋怡 Ng Chun Yi Annie, 馮子穎 Fung Tsz Wing, 謝詠翹 Tse Wing Kiu, 盧丹彤 Lo Tan Tung, 吳育欣 Ng Yuk Yan, 吳汝夢 Wu Rumeng, 張凱瑩 Cheung Hoi Ying, 彭曉藍 Pang Hiu Lam Mila, 徐樂怡 Tsui Lok Yi
Reserve: 王麗麗 Wong Lai Lai, 黃愉廷 Wong Yu Ting, 林秀茵 Lam Sau Yan, 劉芷瑩 Lau Tsz Ying, 區舒韻 Au Shu Wan, 黃嘉程 Wong Ka Ching
Tries: Agnes Tse, Hoi Ying Cheung
Conversion: Agnes Tse

HKFC Ice
Cheryl Gourley, Fion Got, Megan Richardson, Claire Forster, Tsz Ying Tam, Sophie Short, Martha Webber, Bobby Wilson, Kimberly Yuen Ki Wrixon, Rachel Fong, Crystal Wray, Rachel Crothers, Jaime Yuen Wing Ho, Sheung Yee Siu, Bernadette Bray
Reserve: Angelina Cheung, Denise Chan, Shonagh Ryan, Heidi Johnson, Helen Lee, Jordan Rear, Stephanie Heathcote, Zuzanna Osinska
Tries: Bernadette Bray, Jaime Yuen Wing Ho, Crystal Wray, Shonagh Ryan, Martha Webber
Conversions: Rachel Fong (2), Helen Lee

香港足球會(港會)使出渾身解數,以31比12打敗佔上風的康維他城市星光隊(城市欖球會)。
開始30分鐘,城市欖球會儘佔上風,多徘徊於港會的22米先內。港會努力防守,最後Martha Webber在八分鐘時拿了第一個黃牌。
城市欖球會有兩次達陣的機會,但都被港會扭轉逆勢。Bernadette Bray做了一個遠傳球,再由後 衛直衝70米達陣,Rachel Fong踢入。賽事16分鐘,成績7比0。
張凱瑩在邊線衝出,可惜被港會在最後階段攔截到,再把球踢出,解決困局。
上半場完場前五分鐘,港會發動攻勢,攻至城市欖球會的22米線。城市欖球會防守嚴密,但Ho Yueng Wing Jaime看到一個在邊線的入球機會,繞過邊鋒,在角落達陣,成績變成12比0。
城市欖球會以快攻把球踢出,港會持球進攻可惜遇到攔截,但Martha Webber把球搶回再達陣,上 半場完場成績19比0。港會只用了十分逆轉劣勢。
在半場時,.港會教練明顯給了一些戰術,。下半場開場時,港會先發制人,積極進攻。雖然城市欖 球會有一個達陣機會,可惜Mavis不能及時把球傳出,機會錯失。比賽都徘徊在城市欖球會的22米內,港會的第四個入球應不遠了。
城市欖球會把球大腳踢出,給了港會另一機會進攻,但被馮子穎漂亮的攔截到。城市欖球會信心大增,在港會12米爭球時,謝詠翹持球衝過三個攔截達陣,成為城市欖球會的第一個入球,19比7。
港會反擊,打遠傳戰,利用球場的外圍空間。經過多次攔截和爭球後,港會把球遠傳給Shonagh Ryan,輕易達陣24比7。Martha Webber乘勝追擊,但最終被城市欖球會攔截到。再用同樣戰術,把球遠傳,Cheung Hoi Ying入球。70三分鐘, 24比12。
比賽變得緊張,港會加緊防守。最後由Heidi Johnson衝過三個攔截再把球遠傳至Crystal Wray達陣,Helen Lee踢入, 31比12。本來港會可以再加一球,可惜給區舒韻漂亮的攔截到,總成績31比12。