Tag: University Unicorns
Match Report: Uni-Pirates 15-68 Gai Wu @ Happy Valley – 8 October, 2016
The Uni-Pirates continued their magical voyage with their second National League 2 game against Gai Wu Hawks in Happy Valley. The team suffered a blow before kick-off with winger Pricila Wang fracturing her finger in the warm-up. Gai Wu requested to have uncontested scrums during the match as they didn’t have enough scrum trained forwards – a frustrating situation for the Uni-Pirates who had a clear advantage in forward pack weight, but safety first.
Gai Wu took advantage of an uncontested scrum in the Uni-Pirates twenty-two to create their first try, scored by their fly half. A second quickly followed as the Hawks scored from a quickly taken penalty close to the Uni-Pirates try line. The Uni-Pirates played their way into the game using their forward strength and a ten-minute period of possession deep in the Hawks’s half finally paid off with a penalty five metres from the Gai Wu line. The Uni-Pirates forwards worked hard and drove hooker Kon Chan over the try-line for their first try of the season. Gai Wu used a long restart kick to pin the Uni-Pirates deep in their own half. Unable to clear the danger, Gai Wu scored a third try and then a fourth just before the half time. Half-time 30-5.
Gai Wu’s backs were pushing the Uni-Pirates defence hard and scored another try early in the second-half. Down, but not out the Uni-Pirates responded with some powerful forward play which was almost rewarded when Estelle touched the ball down, only to have the referee disallow the try for a knock-on. The uncontested scrums really favoured Gai Wu whose backs scored another long distance try. With fatigue setting-in for the Uni-Pirates, Debby was shown a yellow card for a high tackle. Gai Wu took full advantage of the extra woman scoring three tries.
An exchange of tries then followed as the Uni-Pirates strong forwards put together over 10 phases of play which finally released full-back Gloria Law who scored with a nimble pick-up before darting over the line. The Hawks responded, taking advantage of a line-out fumble to score another converted try. Back though came the Uni-Pirates as scrum-half Estelle Barbaroux continued her scoring streak taking a quick penalty near midfield and breaking through seven defenders to score close to posts. Looking for bonus point the Uni-Pirates pushed hard in the final minutes in an attempt to score a fourth try. Another line-out fumble though saw Gai Wu steal the ball and score another try in the games closing minutes. Final score 68-15.
Although the score looks lop-sided the young and in-experienced Uni-Pirates – a combination team of the University Unicorns and the DB Pirates – learnt a lot of lessons and scored some confidence boosting tries to show that there’s more to come as season progresses.
Uni-Pirates:
Forwards: Debby Cheung, Monica Aoko Ariwi, Florence Li, Imogen Dean, Joyce Leung, Kon Chan, Amoy Hugh-Pennie, Lai Ka Yan, Meg McGrath, Renee McCreadie, Julie Buddle
Backs: Sombo Sisay, Estelle Barbaroux (Captain), Cheng Hiu Yi, Bonbon Jan, Gloria Law, Sienna Stubbs, Celine Malunes, Keren Shahar Gafni, Liza Avelino
Tries: Kon Chan, Gloria Law, Estelle Barbaroux
Match Report: Women Premiership Round 2 – 8 October, 2016
Hong Kong’s sevens squad players returned to domestic action in the second round of the Women’s Premiership which saw Valley Black and Gai Wu Falcons register convincing wins over Kowloon and CWB Phoenix. The two top clubs in the local women’s game continued their impressive form of the opening Saturday with Valley’s 56-0 win over Kowloon equalling Gai Wu’s margin over the same opponents the previous weekend, while Gai Wu beat CWB Phoenix 31-0.
Gai Wu’s coach Lai commented after the game “Causeway Bay were really competitive in the first half, they put us under a lot of pressure in both defence and attack. Their attitude was positive and they got right on to us. I thought we took a long time to get on top of things but then we got a bit of confidence in the final quarter.” Lai added “We can take a lot of positives from the game but we made a lot of errors in basic skills too, which we’ll need to address for the next game.”
Despite the loss CWB Phoenix coach Ocean Chow was confident. “I was very pleased with our performance. This game built our team spirit and I think the players enjoyed the game.”
Causeway Bay got off to a torrid start putting the Falcons under significant pressure right up to the final quarter when the Falcons returning Hong Kong sevens players put some gloss on the scoreboard.
At half-time Phoenix trailed by only two tries, missing several chances to get on the board themselves.
“Gai Wu scored two tries in the first half while we had a very good chance that we did not take. In the second half, it was the same story as last week: not enough fitness, so our performance is not yet stable,” said Chow.
Chow was pleased with the efforts of his forwards “Our scrum was stronger than previously – we were probably 50:50 against Gai Wu [in this area] and our driving was also good, but it was not enough.”
In the days other Premiership game HKFC Ice got their campaign off to a solid start with a win over a battling City XV, 39-17.
Additional reporting and image: HKRU
Women’s Rugby Results – 8 October, 2016
Premiership
Kowloon 0-56 Valley Black
@ Happy Valley, Kick-off: 16:30
Gai Wu 31-0 CWB Phoenix
@ So Kon Po, Kick-off: 16:30
HKFC Ice 39-17 City Sparkle
@ HK Football Club, Kick-off: 18:00
National League 1
Gai Wu Fawkes 31-7 HKCC
@ Aberdeen, Kick-off: 18:00
Tai Po Dragons v Revolution SRC
@ KGV, Kick-off: 18:00
HK Scottish v Valley Red
@ Shek Kip Mei, Kick-off: 18:00
National League 2
Uni-Pirates 15-68 Gai Wu Hawks
@ Happy Valley, Kick-off: 15:00
City v HKFC Fire
@ HK Football Club, Kick-off: 16:30
Tai Po Dragons 22-0 Tin Shui Wai
@ KGV, Kick-off: 16:30
Kowloon 12-32 Police
@ Police Boundary Street, Kick-off: 18:00
photo: HKRU
Women’s Rugby Fixtures – 8 October, 2016
Women’s Rugby Results – 1 October, 2016
National League 1
Gai Wu Fawkes 19-0 HK Scottish
@ KGV, Kick-off: 18:00
Revolution SRC 5-10 USRC Tigers
@ King’s Park, Kick-off: 18:00
Valley Red 19-10 HKCC
@ Kings Park, Kick-off: 18:00
National League 2
Tin Shui Wai 17-25 Gai Wu Hawks
@ KGV, Kick-off: 16:30
University 5-35 City
@ Sandy Bay, Kick-off: 16:30
Tai Po Dragons 7-26 CWB Lammergeier
@ Happy Valley, Kick-off: 18:00
HKFC Fire 22-0 Kowloon
@ HK Football Club, Kick-off: 18:00
Photos: courtesy of their owners
Our apologies that not all scores are currently available, 2 days after the games and the HKRU has still not released the match scores
Women’s Rugby Fixtures – 1 October, 2016
Women’s Rugby Shines on Super Saturday
The 2016-17 season of the Women’s Premiership kicked off with a Super Saturday showcase at King’s Park with six of the seven Premiership teams in action, including Premiership debutants City Sparkle, last year’s League and Grand Champions Valley Black and the runners-up in both competitions Gai Wu Falcons.
Last year’s top two were convincing form with muscular bonus point wins on the opening weekend. In the season’s opening match Valley dispatched CWB Phoenix 45-7 in an impressive eight try performance even though three of its top players were absent representing Hong Kong in the Asian Sevens series.
The absence of Valley’s large contingent of Hong Kong representatives, combined with a number of retirements in the off-season, has catalysed a youth movement in the Valley with numerous players called up from last year’s second side Valley Red.
“I’m really pleased with our performance today,” said Sam Feausi, the long-time Valley star, who is serving as assistant coach for the team this season. “We showed good structure despite having a few girls missing. We had seven or eight players from last year’s second team in the first side today and it’s good to see the young girls stepping up.”
Their ability to transition to Premiership level will play a decisive factor in Valley’s ability to defend its two-season long unbeaten streak once the top sides face each other.
“We are confident, but this season is going to be much more competitive. Everybody is pretty strong. All of the teams are missing their sevens girls but the results are still really convincing,” Feausi added.
Gai Wu Falcons soared to their biggest opening day victory in the day’s second match dispatching Kowloon 56-0 despite lacking four of their stars including Hong Kong captain Christy Cheng Ka-chi who were also on international sevens duty.
In the final match of the day, USRC Tigers withstood a fierce early charge from City Sparkle before overpowering the Premiership debutants 45 – 3.
Tigers coach Liu Kwok-leung said City’s intensity troubled his side early on: “They put us under a lot of pressure and it took us a while to get settled in and switched on. Their defensive line speed is good and stopped us from organising. They have good potential to compete this season.
“But eventually we settled a bit and I was pleased that we kept our structure and performed what we have been training,” Kwok added.
City coach Fung Kai-hang said, “Tigers are one of the top teams and they played well. We have set some goals for the league this season. There are games we target to win, games we target to compete in and games that we can use as a learning curve.
“This was our first Premiership match and the girls really felt the difference in intensity. It’s more confrontational and the speed and strength of the game is much better at this level, but we learned a lot today.
“We need to keep working on our set piece and the contact area. We play Football Club next and they have a big pack and will be similar to Tigers. But the girls are really positive. We gave up a lot of tries tonight but they kept working hard and going forward,” said Fung
For the full weekend’s results click here
Additional reporting and image: HKRU