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Falcons beat Tigers in Women’s Premisership

USRC Tigers ran unbeaten Gai Wu Falcons close at So Kon Po, losing a tight encounter, 12-0. In the weekend’s other Women’s Premiership match Kowloon beat City Sparkle 21-0. The match between Valley Black and HKFC Ice was postponed. For the National league 1 & 2 results click here.

The tight contest between last year’s second and third places finishers saw the Tigers trail 5-0 at the break despite Falcons exerting a strong territorial advantage in the first forty minutes.

“We played superb rugby in the first half,” said Falcons coach Lai Yiu-pang. “We kept Tigers under a lot of pressure and penned them back in their half for most of the opening period. We knew that the game was going to be a physical test and we matched up with them well. I think they only managed to get the ball in our half one or two times in the first half.”

Lai credited his forward pack, laden with Hong Kong fifteens and sevens stars, as the difference makers this afternoon, saying, “Our forwards did really well in both attack and defence. We have a lot of sevens players in the backline who are just coming off their international season and I think they need to develop their fifteens-sense a bit more as we made a lot of errors in the backline today.”

The Falcons had their full compliment of 13 national squad representatives available including Aggie Poon Pak-yan who played for 65 minutes in her first fifteens game of the season, after being injured in the Asian sevens series.

Despite the loss, Tigers coach Liu Kwok-leung was proud of his team’s efforts: “Compared to our game against Valley [a 32-3 loss] last weekend we played much better today. The girls took the lessons from last week to heart and showed a big improvement.”

Ahead of the game, Liu had warned his side of the importance of closing down Gai Wu’s speed and attack in open play. That comment proved true as Gai Wu pulled away for good in the second half after capitalising on a rare defensive miscue by Tigers, when a botched clearance kick failed to make touch and was returned by Falcon’s speedy wing Chong Ka-yan for a try that put the game out of reach for Tigers.

Liu also bemoaned his side’s inability to convert their chances saying, “We had a lot of possession but we couldn’t take our opportunities to score. The game was really close especially in the first half with both teams’ defences playing very well and forcing a lot of errors.

Our defensive effort was top notch. We really shut them down in the first half and our line speed and communication on defence was really good, but we just lacked some composure on attack.”

“We are looking forward to the second round of matches and will analyse our early performance with the players, but there is a lot we can build off from this match. I think we may need to refine some of our patterns and structures when we play against the top teams like Valley and Falcons, but it is coming together well,” Liu added.

The Falcons’ win brought its hot streak to five matches, during which they have only conceded a single unconverted try. Next up they taken on Valley Black for what promises to be the match of the season so far next week. While the Tigers now prepare to take on Football Club.

Kowloon collected its first win of the season, 21-0 over Premiership debutants City, who were hunting for their first win in Hong Kong Women’s Rugby’s top flight.

Additional reporting and image: HKrugby

Women’s Rugby Results – 5 November, 2016

Premiership

USRC Tigers 0-12 Gai Wu Falcons
@ So Kon Po, Kick-off: 16:30

Kowloon 21-0 City Sparkle
@ KG V, Kick-off: 18:00

Valley Black v HKFC Ice – Postponed
@ HK Football Club, Kick-off: 18:00

National League 1

Valley Red 0-22 Tai Po Dragons
@ King’s Park, Kick-off: 18:00

HK Scottish v Revolution SRC
@ Shek Kip Mei, Kick-off: 18:00

USRC Tigers 0-26 Gai Wu Fawkes
@ So Kon Po, Kick-off: 18:00

National League 2

Kowloon 7-34 CWB Lammergeier
@ KG V, Kick-off: 16:30

Gai Wu Hawks 17-20 Tai Po Dragons
@ Tai Hung Tang, Kick-off: 16:30

HKFC Fire 39-0 University Pirates
@ Sandy Bay, Kick-off: 16:30

Police Sirens 46-0 City
@ Police Boundary Street, Kick-off: 18:00

Image: HKrugby

Women’s Rugby Fixtures – 5 November, 2016

Women’s Rugby Results – 29 October, 2016

Premiership

USRC Tigers 3-32 Valley Black
@ King’s Park, Kick-off: 15:00

Gai Wu Falcons 65-5 HKFC Ice
@ HK Football Club, Kick-off: 18:00

Kowloon 0-12 CWB Phoenix
@ KG V, Kick-off: 18:00

National League 1

Revolution SRC 10-15 Gai Wu Fawkes
@ KG V, Kick-off: 16:30

HKCC 10-81 Tai Po Dragons
@ Tai Hung Tang, Kick-off: 16:30

USRC Tigers 10-12 HK Scottish Kukris
@ King’s Park, Kick-off: 18:00

National League 2

Uni-Pirates 5-27 Kowloon
@ KG V, Kick-off: 15:00

City 0-22 Tin Shui Wai
@ Tin Shui Wai, Kick-off: 15:00

Gai Wu Hawks 12-20 CWB Lammergeier
@ Shek Kip Mei, Kick-off: 16:30

HKFC Fire 0-19 Police Sirens
@ Police Boundary Street, Kick-off: 18:00

Photo: HKRU

Women’s Rugby Fixtures – 29 October, 2016

Match Report: HKFC Ice 22-14 CWB Phoenix @ King’s Park – 22 October, 2016

HKFC Ice kicked off against CWB Phoenix with an unintended late start at King‘s Park courtesy of typhoon Haima. Ice had a noisy crowd of enthusiastic supporters there to cheer them on.

Rosie Hopewell-Fong led the girl’s from the start, implementing a pre-planned kicking strategy to exploit the space. The chasing backs earning Ice an early penalty. HKFC looked threatening, exerting pressure and keeping the ball deep in the CWB’s half. On 14 minutes, an excellent drive for the line by Rosie Hopewell-Fong opened the scoring.

CWB put together some fast passages of play and notable scrums from their forwards; however HKFC’s solid defence and some exceptional tackling from Crystal Wray on the wing prevented them from gaining the possession. With both sides kicking for territory and looking for a line break, the majority of action was in the middle of the pitch as the first half drew to close.

Ball and handling errors from both sides resulted in a few missed opportunities for HKFC. Two yellow cards were presented to CWB for foul play. Ice exploited their numerical advantage and Captain, Bobby Wilson scored a hard earned second try just before the whistle. Half-time 10-0.

After the break, CWB looked to pick-up the intensity of their game, as they did so though the errors started to creep in and several dropped balls and Ice took full advantage of CWB’s generosity as Bobby Wilson scored her second try of the afternoon, converted by Rosie Hopewell-Fong’s 17-0.

Exciting, yet scrappy game play at times from both teams fighting for their place. Ice made some changes with Angelina Cheung and Maggie Wong off replaced by Nina Pirie and Natalia Lech. Relentless pressure from CWB looking for a way back into the game was finally rewarded with a converted try.

With 5 minutes to go, more subs for HKFC; Jamie Ho for Stephanie Siu, Denise Chan off for Doris Chen and Amy Kong on for Royce Chan. These fresh legs combined to set up HKFC Ice’s Crystal Wray for a fourth try and surely seal the game with 3 minutes to go. CWB replied quickly penetrating a wide gap up the middle to secure a well deserved second converted try. Final score 22-14.

HKFC Ice:
1. Denise Chan, 2. Shonagh Ryan, 3. Megan Richardson, 4. Angelina Cheung, 5. Iris Chan, 6. Claire Hunter, 7. Nina Pirie, 8. Bobby Wilson ©, 9. Sophie Short, 10. Rose Hopewell-Fong, 11. Jane Cheung, 12. Stephanie Siu, 13. Jamie Bourk, 14. Crystal Wray, 15. Helen Lee
Substitutes: Doris Chen, Cheryl Gourley, Zuzanna Osinska, Royce Chan, Cynthia Luk, Henrietta Wong, Hei Hei Wong and Rabbit Leung.
Tries: Bobby Wilson (2), Rosie Hopewell-Fong, Crystal Wray
Conversion: Rosie Hopewell-Fong

Causeway Bay Phoenix:
1. Pui Yan, Cooliy Wong, 2. Tsang Siu Ching, 3. Chin Po Po, 4. Chan Yan Yi, 5. Wing Chi Jenny Wong, 6. Li Man Yi, 7. Tin Yan, Dora Chim, 8. Tsang Ching Man, 9. Sin Man Hau, 10. Wong Sze Man, 11. Lau Sin Tung, 12. Au To, 13. Chan Abigail, 14. Lam Ka Wai, 15. Tsang Yuen Ying
Substitutes: Ho Pui Ki, Kwan Ki Chan, Rain Lam, Kwok Yuk Lin (C), Ling Yee Ally Cheung, Ng Wing Yee, See Wai June Au, Wing Ting Catherine Cheng

Match Report: HK Scottish Kukris 45-5 HKCC @ KG V – 22nd October 2016

The HK Scottish Kukris are having a rollercoaster start to the season, a good win over Valley, either side of loses to Gai Wu and Tai Po. The Kukris were looking for a strong performance against HK Cricket Club. And they started brightly, as after only four minutes Lo-Ho Yau sprinted from the halfway line to score under the posts. Karis Cheng converted; 7-0.

Cricket Club came back strongly and worked their way into the Kukris twenty-two. But a penalty for offside gave Kukris the ball. Karis Cheng was able to able to evade several tackles for another 50-metre dash to score under the posts, although she missed her own conversion; 12-0.

Unfortunately at this point the game was halted due to an injury to one of the Cricketers. After the enforced break it was agreed the first half would be completed and the second half consist of the remaining time available. It was the Cricketers who came back strongest and put Kukris under continued pressure. The pressure increased further when Lo-Ho Yau was given a yellow card for offside and spent 10 minutes in the bin.

In spite of repeated assaults on their try line by HKCC, it was the Kukris who scored next, with Nieve Heskin making another long run to score under the posts. Karis Cheng converted. Man-ling Hui and Hau-yi Chung combined well on the right wing, allowing Chung to score, with another conversion from Karis Cheng. The Cricketers immediately responded, shrugging off some soft tackles to open their scoring. Halftime 24 -5.

In the shortened second half any thoughts of a Cricket Club fightback were quickly extinguished. First Sze-ting Li ran an incredible mazy run to touch down. Man-ling Hui quickly followed this up with two fine tries of her own. Karis Cheng converted the latter two. Final score 45-5 to Kukris, with an impressive team performance from the girls.

Next week Hong Kong Scottish Kukris take on USRC Tigers in second v third clash, with both teams on ten points. Cricket Club, still looking for their first win, take on table topping Tai Po Dragons, also on ten points.

Hong Kong Scottish Kukris
Neon Chau, Tiffany Tse, Tung-Hoi Jim, Crystal Lee Oi-Yan, Emily So, Nicola Yip, Nieve Heskin, Sze Ting Li, Karis Cheng, Hau-Yi Chung, Lo-Ho Yau, Andie Ma, Ket Robinson, Man-Ling Hui, Lo-Ho Yau, Yumi Fan Sau-Yi, Angle Leung, Yuen-Ting Fung, Yumi Sau Yu Fan, Po-Ki Chan
Tries: Nieve Heskin, Karis Cheng, Hau-Yi Chung, Man-Ling Hui (2), Lo-Ho Yau, Sze-ting Li
Conversions: Karis Cheng (5)

Edited 30 October to update the try scorers

Gai Wu Falcons Flying Start Continues

Gai Wu Falcons continued their perfect start to the Women’s Premiership season beating City Sparkle 58-0 in round four. In the other matches HKFC Ice beat CWB Phoenix 22-14 at King’s Park while the USRC Tigers beat Kowloon 49-0.

The return of Gai Wu’s sevens stars proved too much for Premiership debutants City as Chong Ka-yan ran in four tries alone. Coach Lai Yiu-pang also credited Melody Li Nim-yan for her commitment and work rate and welcomed sevens captain Christy Cheng Ka-chi back for her first fifteens action this season.

“It was really good to get the sevens girls back. Christy played about 30 minutes and she looked really good and Melody was all over the park today. Ka-yan [Chong] may have even had a fifth try it was hard to keep track,” said Lai.

Gai Wu prevented their opponents from scoring for a third consecutive game this season and have now posted 145 points for to zero against over just three matches.

Despite this prodigious strike rate, the Falcons still trail Valley Black – who were on bye this weekend – on points differential. Valley are on +154 after three wins to start the season, keeping the Falcons nestled in second place on the table behind last year’s double-winners.

In other Premiership action, USRC Tigers mauled Kowloon 49-0. It was a disappointing set-back for a Kowloon side that had come within a minute of claiming their first win of the season last week against HKFC and were looking to string together another strong performance. But the Tigers proved too strong.

Tigers coach Liu Kwok-leung was pleased the way his side stuck to their desired structure saying, “This result is what we planned for. We followed our game plan all the way, kept our intensity high and used our width and attacking space well. Everyone played their part well. It was very smooth.”

Liu was also pleased to have his own sevens players back, none more so than the influential Natasha Olson-Thorne. “Natasha was a key player for us tonight. At times when we struggled with our decision-making and the ball was getting messy, she always showed the leadership to rebuild momentum.”

HKFC Ice had the best of its second tight encounter in as many weeks beating CWB Phoenix 22-14. Ice’s forward pack proved the difference in a strong opening half, keeping Causeway Bay under near constant pressure with the first try coming midway through the half.

The pressure led to penalties for Causeway Bay and a succession of yellow cards enabled Football Club to add a second try on a 13-strong Causeway Bay shortly before halftime. Football Club added a buffer-try in the third quarter but Causeway Bay fought back with two successive tries to close the gap to 17-14 before Club collected a bonus point try for the 22-14.

“It was a ding-dong forwards battle,” said HKFC coach David Wigley. “Causeway Bay really upped their game in the second half and had us worried. They have some big strong forwards, and as we got a bit lazy in defence, we were struggling to control their pack.”

Wigley singled out Rosie Fong for her masterful control of the match and scrumhalf Henrietta Wong for solid display.

Full women’s rugby results for 22 October, 2016 here

Additional reporting and image: HKRU