Gai Wu Target Unbeaten Valley as Premiership Returns

Valley Black take on Gai Wu Falcons this weekend at Aberdeen Stadium (16.30) as the Women’s Premiership returns after it’s winter break.

The battle of Hong Kong’s two top women’s rugby outfits is the highlight of a full day of women’s rugby action. USRC Tigers tackle HKFC Ice at King’s Park (18.00), CWB Phoenix play Kowloon at Shek Kip Mei (15.00) and Tai Po Dragons play City Sparkle at the same ground at 16.30.

Valley and Gai Wu resume their rivalry as the Grand Championships beckons… Valley unbeaten for three seasons top the league with a perfect 3-0 record and 14 points. The Falcons are in second on 11 points, with a 2-1 record, their only loss coming to Valley in a 21-14 thriller at the end of last year.

Both sides are close to full strength with the Falcons looking forward to the season debut of Hong Kong ace Christy Cheng Ka-chi after she was sidelined with an elbow injury at the Women’s Rugby World Cup last summer. Valley will have to wait a bit longer for the return of their star forward Amelie Seure, who looks set to return to action in the coming weeks.

The Falcons will also be looking to ease Cheng and Seure’s Hong Kong sevens squad teammate Melody Li Nim-yan back into action after a lengthy injury lay-off. ‘Sailo’ Lai Yiu-pang, coach of Gai Wu is happy with the way his side has been preparing to start the final season push.

“Training last night was really good. It’s always difficult getting every one back into performance mode but everyone put their hands up and got back to business. Both teams will probably take a little time to get their fitness levels up to peak so it’s all about how much determination the players on both sides have to win on Saturday. They have to transfer that intensity into the game situation,” said Lai.

“It’s going to be 80 minutes of tough rugby, so we need to be ready to play the whole game, not just show up for a half or fade out for 10 or 20 minutes. Last time against Valley, we had plenty of opportunities but we made too many mistakes, so we will have to play smart. We have to avoid making the mistakes that give away penalties, and we need to build up our momentum and hold control for good periods,” Lai added.

Valley coach Bella Milo is also leery of any residual holiday rust ahead of the crucial tie. “It’s been a long break and I think the girls are going to take a little bit to get out of the Christmas mode. It’s now about getting our shape for Saturday. Everyone is a bit cautious about how they will perform and how their bodies will hold up.

It’s going to be another tough game – it always is with Gai Wu. This weekend is a big game to kick off the new year and anything can happen. From what I’ve seen before Christmas, anyone [of the four teams in the elite Premiership division] can win. It’ll be interesting and exciting to watch,” said Milo.

Valley will be looking to make another statement of its status as the top side in Hong Kong against Gai Wu, but Milo is aware of some fixes that still need to be made.

“We want to go out and win our set pieces, especially our lineout, which has been troublesome recently. Before Christmas we were a little bit inconsistent with our player line-up, which hurt our performances. It would be good to have a consistent squad available each week, but that’s still a bit of an issue for us, so we will be looking to stabilise the squad in the weeks following.”

From the three-time successive Grand Champions, riding a 51-game winning streak, that will come as ominous news for the other sides in the competition.

The split into an elite and premiership competition has been a positive one for Kowloon who currently nest second behind Tai Po in the development league table with a 2-1 record after romps over Causeway Bay and City in the early going after the break.

Kowloon’s only loss since the split has come against first-placed Dragons who have a perfect 3-0 record since November. Causeway Bay are in third place with five points with City Sparkle still chasing a first win in the development competition.

There’s also a full schedule of matches in Women’s National Leagues 1 & 2

Additional reporting and images: hkru

Women’s Rugby Fixtures – 13 January, 2018

Women’s Rugby Results – 16 December, 2017

National League 1

Tai Po Dragons v Valley Red
@ Shek Kip Mei, Kick-off: 16:30

Revolution SRC 41-8 HKCC
@ Happy Valley, Kick-off: 18:00

HK Scottish Kukris 10-12 Gai Wu Fawkes
@ Shek Kip Mei, Kick-off: 18:00

National League 2

CWB Lammergeier 42-0 Gai Wu Hawks
@ KG V, Kick-off: 16:30

Kowloon 12-24 HKFC Fire
@ KG V, Kick-off: 18:00

Police Sirens v Tin Shui Wai
@ Police Boundary Street, Kick-off: 18:00

Images: bc magazine, hkru

Women’s Rugby Fixtures – 16 December, 2017

Women’s Rugby Results – 9 December, 2017

Premiership

Valley Black 30-15 USRC Tigers

@ KG V, Kick-off: 16:30

Valley Black: Akanisi Au Yeung, Jasmine Cheung, Li Lai Mang Becky, Wing Yan Leung, Ching To Cheng, Deena Ravi Thinakaran, Caitlin Spencer, Riva Brill, Aroha Savage, Colleen Tjosvold, Kelsie Bouttle, Tanya Young, Jessica Eden, Nadia Cuvilier, Laurel Chor, Zoë Smith
Reserve: KK Wong, Wing Suet Rachael Wong, Adrienne Davis, Bella Milo, Josephine Lalanne Tauzia, Karen So, Wong Hoi Yuet

USRC Tigers: Ka Po Ho, Charlotte Myrans, Wong Yuen Shan, Wing Lam Ho, Lok Kwan Chan, Christy Tse, Wing Ni Siu, Maelle Picut, Yuen Ting Liu, Lara Schats, Yu Ching Tam, Wai Yan Lo, Bo Yan Bena Yu, Cho Sze Yu, Hebe Talas
Reserve: Arianna Talas, Chan Lingling Elaine, Ho Siu Luen, Joyce Yung Man Ting, Lin Ming Sze, Maylynn Ng, Wing Yan Cheung

CWB Phoenix 38-8 City Sparkle

@ HKIED, Kick-off: 17:30

CWB Phoenix: Tsang Siu Ching, Chin Po Po, Ho Pui Ki, Chan Yan Yi, Hau Yan, Tina Ho, Tin Yan, Dora Chim, Tsang Ching Man, Ka Ling, Martini Ip, Ho Ting ‘Hoty’ Chan, See Wai June Au, Lam Ka Wai, Stephanie Chan, Kong ‘Koko’ Yin Ting, Chan Po Tung, Lau Sin Tung
Reserve: Cookie Man Sze Tse, Lin Yin, Chan Ka Wai, Hau Yi Chung, Li Man Yi, Suet Ni Pak, Suet Ying Lo

City Sparkle: Sze Yu Fu, Tin Yee Cheung, Ka Yan Fung, ChoYu Liu, Yu Ting ‘魚’ Wong, Sau Yan Lam, Kar Man Hilary Tse, Chun Yi Annie Ng, Tsz Wing Donis Fung, Agnes Tse, Shu Wan Au, Yuk Yan Ng, Man King Cheng, Hoi Ying Cheung, Mila Hiu Lam Pang
Reserve: Lok Yi Tsui, Ting Edith Chak, Kit Sze Wan, Tsz Ying YoYo Lau

Gai Wu Falcons 29-12 HKFC Ice

@ KG V, Kick-off: 18:00

Gai Wu Falcons: Ka Shun Lee, Hoi Lam Ho, Ka Wai Lam Debby, Sharon Shin Yuen Tsang, Yee Ching Chan, Po Kei Man, Hiu Ki Yip, Wai Yan Pun, Suet Ying Wong, Tsz Ting Lee, Kayan Chong, Wing See Chiu, Greer Muir, Kam Chi Chui, Abigail Chan
Reserve: Cherry Ng Ki Sum Ball, Hoi Ying Ku, Tammy Lau, Charmaine Da Costa, Ka Yin Wong, Lai Pui Shan, Wai Ying Li, Yuen Yan Man

HKFC Ice: Cheryl Gourley, Shonagh Ryan, Angelina Cheung, Claire Forster, Tsz Ying Tam, Sophie Short, Nina Pirie, Fion Got, Stephanie Heathcote, Corrineke Windle, Crystal Wray, Jaime Yuen Wing Ho, Rachel Fong, Maggie Wong, Rachel Crothers
Reserve: Denise Chan, Manlok Tang, Royce Chan, Claire Hunter, Kimberly Yuen Ki Wrixon, Sheung Yee Siu

Tai Po Dragons 22-12 Kowloon

@ Shek Kip Mei, Kick-off: 18:00

Tai Po Dragons: Hoi Yan Lo, Ka Hei Kwok, Wing Yi Vincci Leung, Wing Chi Tang, Ning Yan Ng, Wai Kwan Wan, Yin Ting Hui, Wan Man Liu, Wing Ying Wong, Hoi Yan Poon, Ching Wa Lo, Oyinlola Kim, Sau Yan Kwong, Kwan Yi Hau, Wai Ming Wong, Cho Yan Chan, Hiu Tung Chan, Tung Yan Chui, Wai Kwan ‘Kwan’ Li
Reserve: Ka Man Charline Shea, Shea Ka Wai Charlotte

Kowloon: Hiu Tung Chan, Yuk Wun Yip, Tsang Yan, Tam Ying, Tang Sin Chi Phyllis, Yee To Cheng, Winnie Cheung, Jackie Leung, Ho Yee Mak, Chun Yan Ho, Tsz Ki Chiu, For Wing Florence Lee, Maggie Au Yeung, Wai Ling Chan, Chu Wing Yee
Reserve: Suet Lai Au , Wong Wing Gee Charlotte, Ching Hei Victoria Wong, Ching Yeung Sylvia Ho, Lok Sze Leung, Sze Wing Man, Wing Chi Amber Tsang

National League 1

HK Scottish Kukris 47-0 Tai Po Dragons
@ Kowloon Tsai, Kick-off: 15:00

Gai Wu Fawkes 72-0 HKCC
@ KG V, Kick-off: 15:00

Valley Red 20-0 USRC Tigers
@ Happy Valley, Kick-off: 18:00

National League 2

CWB Lammergeier 59-5 City Twinkles
@ HKIED, Kick-off: 16:00

Gai Wu Hawks 5-17 HKFC Fire
@ King’s Park, Kick-off: 18:00

Tin Shui Wai 32-10 University
@ Tin Shui Wai, Kick-off: 18:00

Images: bc magazine

Tigers Look to End Valley Streak As Kowloon’s Good Form Continues

In the Women’s Premiership this weekend HKFC Ice will be looking to parlay their strong performance against Valley Black last week into a result when they take on Gai Wu Falcons (18:00, KG V). That’s directly after Valley look to remind USRC Tigers why they are unbeaten in 50 games (16:30, KGV).

Kowloon Ladies and Tai Po Dragons are the two sides atop the Women’s Premiership Development league and they meet at Shek Kip Mei (18:00), each having played and beaten the other two teams, Comvita City Sparkle and SCAA First Pacific CWB Phoenix, who face off at 17:30 at Education University Hong Kong.

The Kowloon – Tai Po game should be competitive with both sides winning twice in the Premiership Development. Earlier this season, in the opening game, newly promoted Tai Po prevailed 12-10.

Kowloon coach Jonathan Ho believes his side are ready to rise to the occasion this time. “We’re definitely out for revenge [after losing that first match] and this is a must-win if we are going to top the Premiership Development,” he said.

“It definitely won’t be an easy match but everything is looking according to plan for us. The last two games and our overall performance recently have really boosted confidence and raised atmosphere in the team. If our players are able to maintain that confidence, we can win this round.”

“We [the two teams] play a quite similar style, aiming to play for the wings, with not so much of a forwards game. So it will be about possession and speed down the line and on the wing. I think it will be close,” adds Ho.

Ho has some injury and availability concerns. Fly half Victoria Wong Ching Hei is recovering from a twisted ankle, and remains doubtful. Full back Fung Wai Man and prop Chan Sin Ying are both unavailable. “Every match is a tight game. Our girls are rising to that and we’re building our confidence. We know we are improving but we have to keep working because we don’t have the chance to play with the top teams. When we get to the Grand Championships, I hope we don’t have a rude awakening,” Ho added.

Tai Po coach Tsang Hing Hung has ambitions to challenge the top of this league, and sees the earlier win over Kowloon as one in the bank and wants to defend that success this time out. “If we can win this game, we’ll be top of the bottom group, and that is our immediate goal,” he said.

“We’ve focused on our defence in training. Kowloon have a pretty good, multi-functional attack, with Cindy Yuen as a playmaker. She is a very skillful and smart player but didn’t play in the last game against us, so we are preparing for that. But We are also really confident in our attack and if we can organise our defence, we can win this game,” continues Tsang.

The Premiership was perhaps a tougher challenge than Tsang had anticipated. “We were a little bit disappointed to end [the first part of the season] in the bottom four. Our target was to be top four but we lost a close game against Football Club while we had players away on national duty. But being in the bottom four is good for our development. The level here is quite close, and allows us to develop some of our young girls. Now our aim is to be top of this group,” he observes.

Tsang will be without key players as youngster Lam Tim Yeung and veteran Ivy Kwong Sau Yan, as well as Poon Hoi Yan and Chan Tsz Ching are all away on national duty.

In the Women’s National League 2, leaders SCAA CWB Lammergeier will hope to take home the WNL2 Challenge Shield for a fourth consecutive week when they play eighth-placed City RFC Twinkles (4pm, HKIED). Revolution SRC, who last week took possession of the WNL1 Challenge Shield, are on a bye this week.

Additional reporting/images: hkru

Women’s Rugby Fixtures – 9 December, 2017

Gai Wu Beat USRC as Valley Win 50th Consecutive Game

In the Women’s Premiership Gai Wu Falcons battled to 22-8 win over USRC Tigers, while Valley Black held off HKFC Ice 27-17 to win their 50th consecutive game!

The Women’s Premiership Development league saw wins for the two form teams as Tai Po Dragons beat CWB Phoenix 22-5, and Kowloon Ladies overcame City Sparkle 20-0.

After a 17-17 draw with Gai Wu last time out and looking to go one step further, Tigers made an assured start with a period of controlled rugby including a 10th-minute attack that saw the ball passed smartly along their backline to reach Natasha Olson-Thorne, who slipped two defenders to go over. Off the restart, a penalty 15 metres from the posts was well-kicked by Charlotte Myrans, to give the Tigers an 8-0 lead.

Gai Wu improved as the half wore on, pressing USRC back and securing turnovers and penalties from which teenager Chui Kam Chi and veteran Man Po Kei collected tries as a perhaps over-confident Tigers side forwent their successful kicking tactics and attempted to play their way out of trouble.

Just before the break, winger Chong Ka Yan scored a third, for a 15-8 Gai Wu half-time lead, finding space on the left out of broken play.

In the second period, the two sides were more matched as attacks at both ends were defended firmly, or lost through errors. However one multi-phase effort by Gai Wu bore fruit when Lee Tsz Ting put Greer Muir through a gap in the Tigers line to score close to the posts, converted by Lee Tsz Ching.

Gai Wu coach Lai Yiu Pang felt he had correctly called the game. “I said that the team that made the fewest mistakes would win. We were that team, and I think this was our best performance of the whole season. We have quite a few of our more experienced players away, and so put out a young team. Our back line especially are all around 20-21, except for Candy [Cheng Tsz Ting], who marshalled them expertly, and our back three did a great job handling incoming long kicks that we could then turn to attacks,” he said.

“In the second half we made good chances, and although we let them run to our 22, we defended well and I was pleased with that,” added Lai.

Tigers coach Fan Shun Kei also took a lot of positives from the game. “We played strongly for the first 20 minutes but later in the half got pegged and then made a few mistakes, which Gai Wu capitalised on. Our players got a bit overexcited with the early success and wanted to play the ball instead of kicking out,” said Fan.

“In the second half we were a lot more disciplined, and if we had taken any of four good chances could have been pushing for the win. Gai Wu’s lineout was not great and we stole a few balls, but made too many execution mistakes,” Fan continued.

“Overall, I see big progress from last year. Then, our games against Gai Wu were one-way traffic, but this year we have a draw and a close game. We’ve added a few elements to the team. Now we just need to take our attitude up a level. We’ve got a lot of positives but we still need to improve ourselves,” concluded Fan.

In the other Premiership game, Valley Black notched their 50th consecutive win, a remarkable achievement, over three seasons. Valley scored two early tries but failed to press home their advantage and allowed Football Club to reply with three of their own, including either side of half-time, to ensure a fiercely competitive second half.

In the Women’s National League 1, USRC Tigers 2 had to be content with a two-week hold on the NL 1 Challenge Shield as they were beaten 42-10 by Revolution SRC, who face HKCC Ladies in two weeks’ time.

In the Women’s NL 2 CWB Lammergeier held onto National League 2 Challenge Shield for a third week with a 56-0 win over University RFC Ladies.

Additional reporting and images: hkru