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Women’s 15s Match Report HKCC 15-0 Tai Po Dragons – 31 October, 2015

Week 5 of the Season saw a HKCC team eager to get back to winning ways against a Tai Po team who had been through similar struggles in recent weeks.

The match began with a constant barrage of attacking pressure from HKCC, with the forward pack having some excellent phases moving up the pitch. The Tai Po midfield was able to hold off the HKCC attack on a number of occasions frustrating the team in white.

After dominating the possession in the opening 20 minutes HKCC finally broke the solid Tai Po defence with Ashely Brooks scoring on her return to the starting line up. HKCC continued to put pressure up the field but Tai Po finally broke into the opposition half to ease some pressure in the closing minutes of a tight first half.

HKCC gathered their thoughts at the break looking to add more points to the possession and trying to find answers for a stubborn Tai Po defence.

It was an excellent opening five minutes for the Tai Po team who worked their up the pitch with some dynamic running and crash balls. However, HKCC managed to absorb the pressure and turned the ball over feeding Tissia Polycarpe, who danced her way through the middle of the Tai Po Defence to make the game 10-0.

Fresh legs began to enter the field and change the balance of the game with Tai Po beginning to get more confidence and putting more pressure on HKCC. Both teams locked horns with neither side giving in. HKCC had throughout the game seen great success from the scrum and after sustaining another 15 minutes of pressure a scrum turnover saw HKCC back on the front foot. A penalty occurred, quickly taken it enabled HKCC to march up the field looking to add another try to seal the match.

It came on the final play of the game with Tissia adding a second try for herself in the corner sealing a 15-0 victory and the second win of the season for the HKCC Ladies.

HKCC enjoyed getting back to winning ways but knew they had been in a tough encounter against a very resilient Tai Po side.

HKCC Women of the Match
Forward: Wawa Li
Back: Diana Li

HKCC 15-0 Tai Po Dragons
@ So Kon Po, Kick-off: 16:30
HKCC: Joan Yip, Wawa Li, Nobuko Oda, Lauren Petersen, Lainie Man, Wendy Sham, Cheryl Gourley, Lynda Nazer, Ashley Brooks, Tinley Wong, Steph Zhang, Lucy Thomson, Brenda Chan, Zoe Wong, Diana Li, Charlotte Berry, Katie Rowbottom, Margaret Chan, Elane Lau, Christy Ma, Rhonda Wildeman, Jo Harvey, Tissia Polycarpe, Serene Yee
Try: Tissia Polycarpe (2), Ashely Brooks
Head Coach: Alex Tarleton

Match Report: HKCC 5-29 City – 24 October, 2015

Round 4 concluded an emotional week for HKCC with the passing of player Tom Nelson and with only 1 victory the HKCC Ladies knew they needed to play their best to win against an undefeated City.

After a minute silence HKCC Ladies kicked off and the ball bounced along the dusty pitch straight into the possession of City, who didn’t waste any time before launching an attack. City drew in the HKCC forwards before passing it out wide to the backs. The City fullback danced her way through the defence and quickly popped it off to the winger who comfortably ran round HKCC’s fullback and placed the ball under the posts. The try was easily converted and within minutes of starting City had set the precedent for the rest of the half.

Another HKCC kick off and much to their dismay similar phases took place with the City backs tearing through the HKCC defence and scoring another try. HKCC picked themselves up and kicked back into the City half. After some hard hitting tackles and scrapping in clouds of dust, HKCC won the ball and began their first serious attack of the game. Yet after too few phases HKCC again lost possession and with a big boot City cleared their lines, putting the HKCC fullback under pressure.

City mercilessly pummeled the HKCC defence and it was not long before another breakthrough ensued. This time much to HKCC’s relief, excellent pressure from scrumhalf Emma Chung led to City knocking the ball on over the try line. HKCC were awarded a scrum which led to a good pick up and hand off from number 8 Lynda Nazer, gaining much needed ground. Nevertheless momentum dropped, City regained possession and once again relied on their backs to successfully score a try in the far right corner.

HKCC kicked off and charged into the City half ready to wrestle for possession. After some phases of play with HKCC absorbing the hits, Comvita booted the ball to clear the lines, but this time the ball was effortlessly picked up by Tissia Polycarpe who ran it out of her own half. The HKCC scrums were working well and turned the ball over more than once yet it was not enough to get HKCC points on the board. City struck twice again before the half time whistle blew, ending the half at 29-0.

After motivational words from coach Alex Tarleton and a reassessment of the game, the HKCC Ladies knew they could do better and were eager to demonstrate this.

City kicked off giving HKCC possession and a chance to attack. With new energy and some strong running, particularly from second row Lauren Petersen who needed at least two City players tackling her to be tamed, HKCC clawed their way up the pitch. Before long and for the first time in the match, HKCC had City pinned against their own try line. Foul play from Comvita led to two yellow cards, something that HKCC were happy to take advantage of. A penalty gave HKCC forwards the ball but unable to break through they passed it out wide to the backs. Winger Yana Dimitrova took this opportunity and skillfully scored a HKCC try in the far right corner.

HKCC received the kick and attempted to move up into the City half but the two teams seemed stuck in a stalemate, tirelessly fighting back and forth but neither giving ground. The fulltime whistle blew leaving the result at 29-5.

Contrary to their usual solid defence, the first half consisted of too many missed tackles and sloppy defending from HKCC, which City’s fast paced backs confidently exploited. The second half however was a completely different game, with HKCC keeping City’s attack at bay and working tirelessly to gain a well-earned 5 points, the only points scored in the second half. The HKCC Ladies look forward to proving themselves in the upcoming fixture against Tai Po Dragons.

HKCC Ladies
Forward of the Match: Joan Yip
Back of the Match: Tissia Polycarpe

HKCC 5-29. Comvita City
HKCC: Joanna Harvey, Joan Yip, Nobuko Oda, Lauren Petersen, Isabella Rivers, Wendy Sham, Cheryl Gourley, Lynda Nazer, Emma Chung, Tinley Wong, Yana Dimitrova, Lucy Thomson, Tissia Polycarpe, Zoe Wong, Diana Li
Substitues: Kassie Chapel, Katie Rowbottom, Wawa Li, Angie Ng, Charlotte Berry, Christy Ma, Elane Lau, Hoi Yi Li, Lainie Man
Try: Yana Dimitrova

Match Report: HK Scottish Kukris 12-10 HKCC Ladies

Game 2 of the new season saw HKCC Ladies visit the Rock to face a strong HK Scottish Kukris side. The preparation was solid, with both teams having good numbers and a comprehensive warm up. The weather was perfect before kick off, with whispers of ‘Winter is coming’ from John Snow on the sideline.

HKCC started in what now seems a typical slow fashion, having to defend their own line from a barrage of Scottish attack, in particular by Robyn Beese who used her power to good effect. However HKCC dug deep and showed passion and desire to keep the rampaging Scottish at bay.

After riding the wave of the first ten minutes, HKCC began to get into their flow and the backs started to make some breaks. 15 minutes passed and HKCC’s determination paid off with Sandy Bay graduate Tissia Polycarpe scoring her first Senior Rugby League try by breaking through the centres.

The first half was a tightly fought contest that seemed to consist of scrum after scrum, after scrum. But after taking part in a scrum session with Hong Kong Men’s Coach Andy Hall earlier in the week, the HKCC forwards were well equipped to fend off the domineering Scottish front row, which last season had out-scrummaged them.

At the end of an exciting first half that saw both teams desperately hungry for tries, HKCC held a 5-0 lead.

The second half saw more of the same: some excellent defending from both sides as well as great attacking patterns seemingly cancelling each other out.

With fatigue kicking in and some injuries occurring, both sides looked to make changes. HKCC looked tired and the excellent Scottish front row took advantage of this with some superb counter scrummaging as well as making great yards with ball in hand.

However in a strong counter attack, HKCC forwards drove the Scottish defence back and gained themselves a lot of ground and a crucial penalty. HKCC scrum-half Ashley Brooks pounced on the ball to take a quick tap and go but the referee shouted ‘play on’. Despite this call a confused defence and scrum-half Ashley ceased playing. After a moment of hesitation Ashley recovered and scored a well-earned try under the posts.

HKCC received the ball full of confidence from the restart and again began to use their patterns to good effect. Only to have the ball turned over in their own half, leading to the wrecking balls of the Scottish front row once again, who powered the ball up the field with great steam.

The Scottish attack was in full flow and it was only a matter of time before they were rewarded. This came moments later with a brief lapse from an otherwise impeccable defensive performance so far from HKCC, the Scottish attack capitalised and Man-Ling Hui scored to make it 10-5 with 10 minutes to go.

HKCC regrouped and believed they could hold the home team out to the final whistle, but knew it would be tough if they had to defend for the whole period. So from the kick off they pressured well to cause a turnover.

Time to see the game out!

HKCC got closer and closer to the Scottish line hoping to seal a third try and the game. Inch by inch HKCC could see the line like it was destiny in front of them. Only for destiny to throw a cruel spanner in the works. The excellent Scottish defence counter rucked on their own line allowing their fly-half to kick it clear. HKCC scrambled back in defence yet it was not enough. Out of nowhere and quick as a flash the Scottish speedster Man-Ling Hui collected the ball and effortlessly scored her second, a breakaway try from her own twenty-two, leveling the game at 10-10 with only time left for the conversion.

In what seemed like an eternity, the ball rose high from the Scottish kicker’s boot and flew between the sticks, sealing a dramatic 12-10 victory in the last second of the game.

One of the most entertaining women’s games I have seen in a long time and one that showcased the rise in standard of the second tier of Women’s rugby. Well done to Scottish on their hard fought victory, but HKCC took great pride in the display as they lost by 50 points to the same team at the end of last season. Saturday’s result showed the HKCC Ladies that if they continue to improve like they have since preseason, they will be in the mix for honours come the end of the season.

What a game!

HKCC Women of the Match – Nobuko Oda and Cheryl Gourley
HK Scottish – Has to be their Front Row.

Women NL1: HK Scottish Kukris 12-10 HKCC
@ Shek Kip Mei, Kick-off: 15:00
HKCC Ladies: Carolyn Champion, Wawa Li, Joanna Harvey, Mhari McLoughlin, Nobuko Oda, Wendy Sham, Cheryl Gourley, Lynda Nazer, Ashley Brooks, Tinley Wong, Zoe Wong, Lucy Thomson, Tissia Polycarpe, Brenda Chan, Diana Li
Substitutes: Isabella Rivers, Elane Lau, Serene Yee, Hoi Yi Li, Christy Ma, Margaret Chan
Try: Tissia Polycarpe, Ashley Brooks

HK Scottish Kukris: Rachel Wong, Tiffany Tse, Hoi-Tung Jim, Idy Chung, Robyn Beese, Taro Yau, Jenny Yung, Andie Ma, Hau-Yi Chung, Karis Cheung, Man-Ling Hui, Anna Kam, Sau-Yi Yumi Fan, Claire Hunter, Ket Robinson
Substitutes: Francis Lo, Berky Kong, Wun-Lo Chung, Wun Scarlet Ma, Yuen-Ting Fung
Try: Man-Ling Hui (2), Conversion: Karis Cheung